Iraq: Iraqi legislators have changed the rules for the forthcoming trial of Saddam Hussein, preventing the deposed president from representing himself, according to documents provided to the Los Angeles Times.
Under the original rules for the trial, adopted in December 2003 when US officials were running the country, Saddam was permitted "to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing".
But under revised rules, adopted without fanfare by the Iraqi National Assembly on August 11th, Saddam only has the right "to procure legal counsel of his choosing".
The new rules may alleviate the widespread concern among Iraqi and US officials that Saddam could have used his right of self-representation to grandstand and spout political propaganda.
Richard Dicker, who heads the international justice programme at Human Rights Watch in New York, has criticised the altered rules. He acknowledged that there were legitimate concerns about "political grandstanding" but said the Iraqi legislature had used inappropriate means to address the problem.
"This is like using a sledge- hammer to go after a fly," he said.
The trial scheduled to begin on October 19th may be just the first of a dozen or more Saddam could face. The case focuses on the killings of at least 150 residents in the predominantly Shia town of Dujail following an assassination attempt against him in 1982. - (Los Angeles Times- Washington Post service)