Saddam and Judge Raou Abdel Rahman shouted at each other for several minutes before the judge made the decision to close the trial to the public.
The trouble began when Saddam delivered what was essentially a rallying cry for the insurgency, urging those responsible for bombing the mosques to join forces in a jihad against the occupying forces and the United States.
"I call on the people to start resisting the invaders instead of killing each other," Saddam said.
The judge rebuked him: "Don't make a political speech. Now you are a defendant."
Saddam replied: "If it was not for politics, I would not be here and neither would you." |