Baghdad: Ousted President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein arrived in court today (July 1, 2004) to face trial on a string of charges.

The hearing was conducted at a secret location inside Iraq.

According to sources, the US authorities have removed the audio cards off the cameras, before the recording of the hearing began, while the video tapes show a tired looking Saddam Hussein sitting in the court.

The sources indicated that, Saddam Hussein defended his decision to invade Kuwait in 1990 even as he questioned the authority and jurisdiction of the special tribunal conducting the trial.

He is believed to have insisted during the trial, which lasted for 30 minutes, that he is still the President of Iraq.

"This is all a theatre. The real criminal is Bush," Saddam Hussein said referring to US President George Bush.