Related Event: Iraq in Transition

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Huseein has pleaded innocent to charges of murder and torture as his long-awaited trial began Wednesday.

In his first court appearance since his capture two years ago, Saddam refused to give his name, and argued about the legitimacy of the court.

The first session of the trial lasted about three hours, and the judge ordered an adjournment until Nov. 28.

Saddam and his seven co-defendants could face the death penalty if convicted for the 1982 massacre of nearly 150 Shiites in the town of Dujail, following an assassination attempt.

Speaking to reporters later, chief investigative judge of the tribunal, Raed Juhi, said the adjournment was made after a defense request amid concerns over case files, but he refused to predict the verdict. 


"It is too early to talk about death penalty. We are still at the beginning of the sessions. As I said previously, only the presiding judge can know the verdict. And the verdict can be known at the end of the trial."