Thursday, April 6 2006 14:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: The trial of Saddam Hussein over the massacre of Shiite villagers resumed today (Apr 06, 2006) in absence of the deposed leader, who in a fiery tirade the day before dismissed evidence linking him to the killings.

The hearing began with a single defendant in the dock, Awad Ahmad al-Bander, the former chief judge of the revolutionary court and deputy head of Saddam's office, who was recalled for further cross-examination.

It was not immediately known why Saddam was not in court.

Bander is one of Saddam's seven co-defendants accused over the massacre of 148 Shiites from the village of Dujail after an attempt on the Iraqi leader's life there in 1982.

He was called after testimony given in previous hearings indicated that 35 minors were executed.

Suspects over the Dujail assassination

But Bandar said the suspects over the Dujail assassination bid against Saddam were fairly tried, adding: "Even if their trial took place against the backdrop of the Iran war it was respectfully conducted and I do not think we violated any legal rules."

"The accused had all the rights and were defended by their lawyers," he told chief judge Rauf Abdel Rahman.

Yesterday, a defiant Saddam dismissed evidence linking him to the mass killing of Shiite villagers and launched a new tirade of abuse against his trial.

Saddam, now also facing genocide charges in a separate case, was cross-examined for the first time yesterday since the opening of his trial in October. If found guilty, he and the seven other defendants may face death penalty.