'Fair trial at risk in Saddam's case'

Saddam Hussein and seven other former Iraqi officials go on trial Wednesday for crimes that took place in the town of al-Dujail in 1982.

Government security forces allegedly killed more than 140 individuals from al-Dujail in retaliation for an assassination attempt on Saddam Hussein as his motorcade passed through the town located north of Baghdad.

But Human Rights Watch said in a briefing paper that problems with the tribunal and its statute include the absence of any requirement to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt as well as inadequate protections for the accused.

Also threatening the integrity of the process were disputes among Iraqi political factions over control of the court and requirements that prohibit commutation of death sentences by any Iraqi official and compel execution of the defendant within 30 days of a final judgment, the group said.

Meanwhile, former Iraqi deputy prime minister Tareq Aziz will not testify against Saddam Hussein in an upcoming trial in exchange for his own freedom, Aziz's lawyer told yesterday.

A report in Britain's Sunday Telegraph had said Aziz was ready to take the stand against Saddam, who is to stand trial on Wednesday for the murder of 143 Shia villages in 1982.

"It's completely false, I have always said that Tareq Aziz never had any intention of testifying against Saddam," said Badie Izzat Aref.

According to the newspaper report which quoted Aref, Aziz would have the main charges against him dropped and would be allowed to live quietly in exile while working on his autobiography.

Aziz has been accused of two counts of mass murder, allegedly committed in 1979 and 1991, and punishable by death if he is found guilty. He denies the charges.

Aref told AFP his client would claim that any orders for repressive operations were issued by Saddam himself.