Related Evnet: Iraq in Transition

As Saddam stood on trial, Iraqis gathered around televisions to watch the proceedings.

Many Shiites and Kurds saw the trial as a moment of triumph for Saddam's victims, and believed the trial was important for the history of the country. 


"He deserves to face the severest punishment because he committed several crimes against Iraqis. He is now being tried fairly."

"We hope that the tribunal would sentence Saddam Hussein to the death penalty."

However, some Iraqis and international observers were questioning the fairness of the court, which was set up by an interim Iraq government controlled by Shiites and Kurds.

The lawyer of former Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, Badie Aref Izzat said the trial was a form of revenge by the Bush administration, and in Saddam's hometown of
Tikrit, there was a big demonstration in support of the former president.