Timeline: Saddam trial

January 8, 2007: Saddam Hussain's trial for the killing of 180,000 Kurds in the 1980s resumes. Tapes played during the genocide trial reveal Saddam and his cousin Hassan Al Majeed discussing how chemical weapons would kill thousands of Kurds.

January 2, 2007: The Iraqi government launches an investigation into how guards filmed and taunted Saddam Hussain prior to his execution.

December 31, 2006: Saddam Hussain is buried in a secret funeral.

December 30, 2006: Saddam Hussain is executed, officials and state media say.

December 29, 2006: Saddam Hussain's lawyers say he has been handed over by the US forces to Iraqi government's custody.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki tells state television that Saddam's expected execution will go on without delay or interference from anyone.

December 4, 2006: Saddam Hussain's lawyers appeal against the death sentence against their client for the killing of 148 Shiites in Dujail.

November 5, 2006: Saddam Hussain is sentenced to death for the killings of 148 men after a failed assassination attempt.

November 4, 2006:
Army on alert: All leave for Iraqi military officers has been cancelled in anticipation of a wave of violence following the sentencing of former Iraqi premier Saddam Hussain.

November 1, 2006:
Death or return: Saddam Hussain will either face the death penalty or he will return as president of Iraq, which will turn into "hell" if the deposed dictator is sentenced to death, his lawyers told the media.

October 31, 2006:
Kurdish witness speaks: A Kurdish man told a court trying Saddam Hussain for genocide he saw Iraqi soldiers marching Kurdish prisoners from a bus and killing them before dumping their bodies in a ditch.

October 30, 2006:
Defence walks out again: Saddam Hussain's defence lawyers left the court after clashing with the judge and saying the case against Saddam lacked the "conditions for a fair trial."

October 17, 2006:
Witness makes camp claim: An anonymous witness described how was taken to a huge prison camp after a promised amnesty as Saddam Hussain's genocide trial started on Wednesday.

October 16, 2006:
Verdict date? A court official from the Saddam trial trying said it could deliver its verdict on November 5.

October 12, 2006:
Let me speak: Saddam Hussain asks judge not to cut off his microphone when he takes the stand. After hearing from three kurdish witnesses, the trial is adjourned until October 16.

October 11, 2006:
Saddam thrown out: Chief judge throws Saddam Hussain out of court following an argument, the fourth time in the last five sessions that Saddam has been ordered to leave the court since Mohammed Al Ureybi took over as chief judge.

October 9, 2006:
Prisoners buried alive: Prison guards under Saddam Hussain used to bury detainees alive and watch women as they bathed, occasionally shooting over their heads, a former female prisoner testified.

21 August, 2006
Second Saddam trial begins: The second trial of Saddam Hussain began on Monday with the deposed Iraqi leader refusing to enter a plea on charges of his part of killing tens of thousands of Kurdish villagers. Saddam, along with six former army commanders face charges for their roles in the Anfal (spoils of war) campaign which devastated northern Iraq in 1988. Iraqi forces are accused of launching mustard gas and nerve agent attacks in a seven month onslaught where many villages were razed and hundreds of thousands of people were displaced and killed. Saddam identified himself as "the president of the republic and commander in chief of the armed forces." When the judge asked Saddam, "Are you innocent or guilty," Saddam replied, "That would require volumes of books." Al Amiri ordered a plea of innocent entered into the record.

27 July, 2006
Trial adjourned until October: Saddam does not appear in court for the final session. A verdict in the Dujail trial is expected on 16 October.

26 July, 2006
Saddam execution request: Saddam Hussain in says if he is found guilty and condemned to die, he would like to be shot, not hanged as it is the appropriate means of execution for military personnel. Saddam objected to court-appointed replacement as his defence team continues to boycott the trial.

24 July, 2006
Saddam hospitalized: Saddam is not present at the trial as he is hospitalized due to a hunger strike. The case is adjourned until July 26.

11 July, 2006
Trial adjourned: Chief Judge Raouf Abdel Rahman adjourns the trial until 24 July and says defence lawyers must end their boycott at that time. If the boycott has not ended by that time, the judge says court lawyers will be appointed.

10 July, 2006
Saddam and team boycott trial: The deposed leader says the trial a mockery of international and Iraqi law and is driven by "malicious" US aims. Saddam's lawyers tell judge they will not attend the trial until their security is improved and other demands are met.

19 June, 2006
Prosecution presents final arguments: "They were spreading corruption on Earth... and even the trees were not saved from their oppression," said Chief trial prosecutor Jaafar Al Mussawi. The prosecution calls for the defendents to be put to death. The trial is adjourned to 10 July.

13 June, 2006
Last chance for defence testimony: Chief judge opens by saying it will be the last time the defence can present its testimony. "You've presented 62 witnesses. If that's not enough to present your case, then 100 won't work," Chief Judge Raouf Abdel Rahman said. Barzan Al Tikriti is barred again for constantly interrupting. Former bodyguards for Saddam Hussain say the deposed leader ordered them not to fire back after the assassination attempt against him incase innocent people got injured.

12 June, 2006
Barzan thrown out again: Barzan Al Tikriti removed by security guards after arguing with the chief judge. Defence lawyer Curtis Doebbler says the defence is "at a serious disadvantage" because of the handling of the trial and are being rushed. He pointed out that the prosecution was given more than five months to present its case, while the defence is being forced to conclude within weeks.

5 June, 2006
Defence demands halt in trial: The defence team demands that the trial is halted to investigate the authenticity of documents used as evidence. The trial is adjourned until 12 June.

31 May, 2006
Barzan thrown out of court: Ibrahim Al Tikriti is ordered out of court for continually arguing by Chief Judge Raouf Abdul Rahman. Defence accuses the prosecution of fabricating its evidence and calls for the trial to be halted for an investigation into the claims.

30 May, 2006
Witness says Saddam victims alive: Witness tells court that 23 of the 148 Shia villagers said to have been killled their involvement in the assassination attempt are alive.

29 May, 2006
Witnesses say Dujail trial was fair: Witnesses testify saying the trial in which 148 Shia men from Dujail were sentenced to death over their alleged involvement in an assassination attempt against Saddam Hussein was fair.

24 May, 2006
Aziz testifies: Former Iraqi Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz testifies saying that the defendants cannot be guilty for the deaths of 148 men following a 1982 assassination attempt on Saddam Hussein because the state had a right to punish such an action.

22 May, 2006
Defence lawyer thrown out: Bushra Khalil, is expelled from the courtroom after the judge tells her to wait for her turn to speak. Saddam Hussein protests to the judge - but he too is told to be quiet.

17 May, 2006
Defence witnesses testify: Witnesses testify in defence of four of the lesser-known defendants. Witnesses screened by a curtain testify that the defendants are good men and low-ranking officials with no responsibility or involvement in the killings in Dujail.

16 May, 2006
Witnesses give evidence: Evidence for the three lesser known defendents, Abdullah Kadhem Ruaid, his son Mizher and Mohammed Azawi Ali – all former Baath party officials was given.Two witnesses say the Ruaid family were low-ranking party members and simple farmers whose land was among that razed in retaliation for the attack on Saddam Hussein.

May 15, 2006
Saddam refuses to enter plea: As his trial resumes, the former Iraqi president refuses to enter a plea after being formally charged of murder and torture and tells the court that he is still president. His half-brother and co-defendant Barzan Al Tikriti says the charges are all "lies".

April 24, 2006
Saddam phone recording: A recording allegedly between Saddam and former Iraqi Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan discussing the destruction of farmland in Dujail is played to the court. More handwriting experts confirming the signatures of Saddam Hussein and six of his co-defendants on documents linking them to the crackdown on Shia villagers.

April 19, 2006
Saddam seals death of 148: Handwriting experts authenticated Saddam Hussain's signatures on more documents related to a crackdown on Shiites in the 1980s, the chief judge in his trial said on Wednesday. Among the documents was apparently an order approving death sentences for 148 Shiites.

April 17, 2006
Trial adjourned: The trial of Saddam Hussain and seven co-accused was adjourned until April 19 (Wednesday), the judge said on Monday. Chief judge Raouf Abdul Rahman said experts needed more time to examine Saddam's handwriting that prosecutors say link him to the killing of 148 Shiite men and teenagers in the 1980s. Dressed in a black suit and white shirt, Saddam sat silently in court along with his co-defendants.

April 12, 2006
Saddam refuses to give signature: The trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain resumed on Wednesday for a few minutes and then was adjourned until April 17. No defendants were present due to procedural reasons. The judge Raouf Abdul Rahman said the purpose of the session was to ask investigative criminal experts to verify the signatures of Saddam and most of his co-accused, who claimed that prosecution documents were forged. Saddam Hussain and his half brother Barzan Al Tikriti refused to provide the court with handwriting samples for experts to authenticate signatures said to be theirs on key documents in their trial, the chief judge said.

April 6, 2006
Saddam-era judge deposes: The court trying Saddam Hussain and seven co-defendants held another session on Thursday but the ousted Iraqi leader was not present. Only the former chief of his Revolutionary Court, Awad Al Bandar, was present for cross-examination. Wearing a red checkered traditional headdress, Al Bandar stood alone in the defendants' pen, and insisted that "It was a legal and a just court." But he acknowledged that none of the 148 in the Dujail case were found innocent, but said they had confessed to trying to assassinate Saddam "with instructions from the government of Iran to overthrow the regime in Iraq." After a two-hour session, the trial was adjourned until April 12.

April 5, 2006
Trial resumes: Judge asks Saddam to talk only about the case when the deposed former Iraqi president complained that the court was not neutral. Saddam demands an international body examine signatures alleged to be his on documents the prosecution has presented concerning the crackdown, including an order approving the death sentences. He has said he was acting within the law against people who tried to kill him.

March 15, 2006
Press banned: Saddam begins the sessions by denouncing the court as a 'comedy.' The press is banned from the rest of the hearing as the judge says Saddam is using the trial as a political platform. The prosecution presents a letter asking for several officials to be commended for their work in Dujail signed by Barzan Al Tikriti. Tikriti said his signature had been forged.

March 13, 2006
Acknowledgement: Co-defendent Awad Hamad Al Bandar - former judge of the Revolutionary Court in the early 1980's admites that he sentenced 148 Shias from the village of Dunail to death. Al Bandar says that group had confessed to trying to kill Sadam on Iran's orders. The prosecution deny any such case ever took place.

March 12, 2006
Trial to resume: A former Baath party official, Mizher Abdullah Ruaid appears in court and denies testimony which said that he helped round up Dujail residents and had a hand in destroying property. Ruaid's father and former Baath party official Ali Daeem Ali alos deny any wrong doing.

March 1, 2006
Attendence: Saddam, his seven co-defendents and all the defence lawyers, bar one, attend court. Saddam dramitically announces that he alone is responsible for the actions of his regime and says the court should not be trying anyone else. The chief prosecutor presents more documents and letters including the death certificates of nearly 100 Dujail villagers. One of the letters given to the court says that four people were executed by mistake, whilst two were released by mistake. Another letter says that 50 villagers died during interrogation.

February 28, 2006
Walk out: Two of Saddam Hussain's lead lawyers walk out within minutes of the trial restarting after a two-week pause when requests for a further adjournment and the removal of the chief judge were rejected.

February 14, 2006
Heated exchange: Saddam Hussain appeared in court on Tuesday. Wearing a black suit, he stood before the judge and shouted "God is great" and "long live the great Arab nation".Saddam shouted his support for Iraqi insurgents, yelling "Long live the mujahedeen," as he entered the courtroom and immediately began a heated exchange with chief judge Raouf Abdul Rahman. Saddam's half-brother Barzan Al Tikriti attended court dressed in long underwear to signal his rejection of the court. He rejected charges against him saying that he had ordered the release of the Dujail prisoners and had nothing to do with the massacre. "I released all of the detainees inside the hall - more than 80 persons. I swear to God i said goodbye to them one by one and apologised." On hunger strike: Saddam announced in court that he was on hunger strike to protest tough stances by the chief judge. "For three days we have been holding a hunger strike protesting against your way in treating us - against you and your masters," Saddam told the judge.

February 13, 2006
Launches tirade: Saddam Hussein appeared in court for his trial on Monday, having boycotted earlier sessions, saying he was forced to attend. He immediately relaunched the type of tirades that have dominated the months-long proceedings. First witness: Prosecutors put on the stand Ahmad Hussain Khudayer Al Samarrai, the head of Saddam's presidential office from 1984-1991 and then again from 1995 until the fall of the regime in April 2003. "I am not fit to be a witness in this case," Al Samarrai told the court, bringing a smile from Saddam. Second witness: A second aide to Saddam, Hassan Al Obaidi, intelligence director from 1980 to 1991, also said he was forced to appear as a witness. He said he had been held in detention and said he refused to testify. Affidavits to speed up proceedings: In an apparent attempt to speed up the proceedings, investigating judges read short affidavits by 23 more witnesses on Monday rather than having them take the stand. Their testimony resembled that of past witnesses.

February 2, 2006
Saddam and co-defendants absent: The trial of Saddam Hussein resumed on Thursday, but the former Iraqi leader failed to show up for a second day after his defence team said they would not return to court unless the new chief judge resigns. After the court heard from two witnesses, the trial was adjourned until February 13.

February 1, 2006
Saddam boycott: Saddam and four co-accused refuse to attend, along with their defence team, who say they will not return until chief judge they accuse of bias resigns. Judge Rahman said the trial would go forwards regardless of Saddam's boycott. The court appoints a defence team. The court heard from five prosecution witnesses without arguement or disruption.

January 29, 2006
Protest: Chaos erupts when trial resumes. Barzan Al Tikriti is ejected after refusing to keep quiet and calling the trial "a daughter of a whore". Saddam and his team walk out in protest.

January 24, 2006
Trial postponed: The trial of deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on charges of mass murder, which was to have resumed on January 24, is delayed until January 29, says court official. Spokesman cites absent witnesses. Lawyers speak of division among judges.

January 23, 2006
Shuffle of trial lawyers: The court appoints Raouf Rasheed Abdel Rahman as chief judge and ousts another jurist, Saeed Al Hammash.

January 15, 2006
Chief judge quits: Rizgar Mohammad Amin resigns following alleged government meddling in the Saddam trial and criticisms of leniency on Saddam in court.

December 27, 2005
Lawyers appointed: Saddam Hussain sends a power of attorney to three more Arab lawyers, raising to seven the number of men conducting his defence. UAE national Ebrahim Al Mulla is among the men joining Saddam's defence team.

December 21, 2005
Bailiff ejected: The judge ejects a bailiff after defendants alleged he had threatened them. The former Iraqi president entered the heavily fortified courtroom shortly before 11:30 a.m. (0830 GMT), carrying a copy of the Holy Quran and accompanied by his seven co-defendants. Saddam accused the White House of lying by saying he had chemical weapons before the US-led invasion on 2003. "The White House are liars. They said Iraq had chemical weapons," the former Iraqi president told his trial. "They lied again when they said that what Saddam said was wrong." Saddam ended the sixth session of the trial saying he had been beaten and tortured in US custody. The US State Department dismissed the claim as "highly ironic" and accused him of grandstanding. Conciliatory tone: In one of the more conciliatory statements he has made since the trial began on October 19, Saddam also said those guilty of the alleged torture described by the witnesses should be punished, apparently distancing himself from the accusations. "When I hear that any Iraqi has been hurt it hurts me too," the 68-year-old former leader said. "The wrongs that were done to those people were wrong and, according to law, those who did it should get what they deserve." Tale of torture: Witness 11, who gave his name as Ali Hassan Al Haidari, appeared openly and spoke calmly and coherently. Haidari was the first of five witnesses expected to testify on Wednesday. Dressed in a brown suit and white shirt, he said his brother was executed under Saddam, and recalled the Dujail massacre, when he was just 14, and the events of the years that followed.

December 7, 2005
Closed talks: Defence lawyers and the judges in Saddam Hussain's trial held closed talks in chambers ahead of Wednesday's hearing but Saddam himself was not present. Saddam has refused to appear in court, following on from his threat yesterday of boycotting the trial.

No specifics were provided on what was being discussed in the closed, out-of-court session, visible but not audible to reporters in the gallery.

Two anonymous victims gave evidence of alleged torture and the trial was adjourned until December 21.

December 6, 2005
Trial resumes: Trial hears evidence from three Dujail witnesses. Witnesses gave evidence from behind a curtain. The witnesses told of torture they had endured.

Saddam threatens boycott: Saddam threatens not to attend the next court session.

December 5, 2005
First witness gives testimony: Ahmed Mohammed Hassem Al Dujaili testifies to the mass arrests of Dujail residents in 1982 and the murder of his neighbours, who were among 148 massacred in the village.

Saddam's Defence team returns to court: The defence team returns to court over an hour and half after they had walked out. A source from the defence team says that a deal was struck allowing the defence to voice their arguments in court.

Saddam's defence team walks out: After debates over the court's legitimacy, Saddam's defence team walks out after Judge Amin refuses to immediately hear their complaints. Saddam stands up and says that the court was appointed by US occupiers. Saddam then shouts "Long live the Arab state."

Judge turns down request to oust foreign lawyers: Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin turns down Prosecutor Jaafar Al Mousawi request that that former Attorney General Ramsey Clark and other foreign lawyers be turned out of court because their documents were not issued according to law.

Trial resumes: The session opens at 11.00am local time. The eight accused are introduced. Saddam enters last wearing western clothes. The defence lawyers include former US attorney gerneral who is wearing lawyers robes.

Tikrit march: Hours before the trial resumes dozens of Iraqis in Saddam's home town of Tikrit hold a march to support him. "With our blood and soul, we sacrifice ourselves for you, Saddam," protesters shout.

December 4, 2005
Bomb plot uncovered: One day before the trial resumes, Iraq forces announce that they have foiled a plan to bomb Saddam's trial on December 5.

November 29, 2005
Adjourned: The presiding judge adjourns the trial until December 5.

Video evidence: The court hears evidence from its first prosecution witness, a former intelligence official, gave evidence from a hospital prison that was recorded on video before his death.

Recess: The trial goes into recess barely an hour after resuming. It was not immediately known when it would restart after the break.

Coverage interrupted: Television footage of the trial is interrupted by the broadcaster after Saddam begins arguing with the chief judge. The sound was cut and the picture shifted to a model of the scales of justice hanging behind the judge. The trial is being broadcast with a 30-minute delay to allow for such interruptions.

Complaint: Saddam complains to Judge Amin that his pen and paper were taken from him and referred to interference by the "occupiers". "Why would you confiscate my papers and the pen that I need? How should I defend myself," Saddam demanded.

Earlier, the judge had asked Saddam why he was slightly late. "They brought me here to the door and I was handcuffed. They cannot bring the defendant in handcuffs," Saddam said, complaining that he had had to walk up four flights of stairs because of a broken elevator.

"I will tell the police about this," Judge Amin tells him, keeping the cool, polite tone he preserved during several tirades by Saddam on the first day of the trial last month. "I don't want you to tell them I want you to order them," Saddam replies. "They are invaders and occupiers and you have to order them."

Harsh words: Saddam has some harsh words for his judge when the ousted leader turns up late for the resumption of his trial . "You are as sovereign and they are invaders and occupiers," Saddam tells Judge Rizgar Mohammad Amin, apparently referring to his guards when they brought him to court.

Saddam was the sole defendant dressed in Western clothes and carried a copy of the Holy Koran, bidding his co-defendants good morning as he arrived.

The accused were called in one by one over a period of 10 minutes, with Saddam the last of the eight men to walk in.

Saddam came in eight minutes late, and blames the delay on problems with the elevator and handcuffs which made it hard for him to hold his papers. He says guards haved taken the papers away.

The trial began at 12:17 pm (0917 GMT) and a defence team of 12 lawyers, including former US attorney general Ramsey Clark are present.

October 8, 2006:
Boycott continues: The lawyers of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussain said they will continue to boycott the trial because of "repeated violations by the court"

September 29, 2006:
Gunmen killed a brother-in-law of the new trial judge - Mohammad Al Ureybi - trying Saddam Hussain and badly wounded the man's wife.

26 September, 2006:
Saddam ejected for a third time: Saddam Hussain was ejected from his genocide trial for a third day on Tuesday and his co-defendants tried to storm out after him, as chaos reigned following the sacking of the chief judge last week.

25 September, 2006:
Saddam ejected again: Saddam Hussain was expelled from the courtroom for the second hearing in a rowafter the new chief judge dismissed his request to be allowed out of the metal pen where defendants must sit.

20 September, 2006:
Walkout and ejection: Saddam Hussain's lawyers walkout of his trial hearing to protest against the changing of the chief judge and the deposed leader was ordered to leave the courtroom.

19 September, 2006:
Chief trial judge sacked: The chief judge in the trial of Saddam Hussain has been sacked. Abdullah Al Amiri was replaced on the five-member panel by Mohammed Al Uraibiy, who was his deputy in the trail.

18 September, 2006:
Trial resumes: A Dutchman testified that he temporarily lost his eyesight due to an alleged chemical attack by Iraqi forces on his village nearly two decades ago as Saddam's trial resumed.

14 September, 2006:
Saddam not a dictator: The chief judge in Saddam Hussain's genocide trial Abdullah Al Amiritold the ex-president yesterday that “you were not a dictator,'' sparking Kurdish demands he be replaced.

13 September, 2006:
Judge sacking calls made: The chief prosecutor in Saddam Hussain's trial for genocide against the Kurds demanded that the chief judge resign for being too soft on the former Iraqi president and his six co-accused.

11 September, 2006:
No need for guilt: Saddam Hussain told his countrymen they should not feel guilty for crushing the Kurdish insurgency in the late 1980s as witnesses testify to being subjected to gas attacks.

23 August, 2006:
Kurd curses Saddam: An Iraqi Kurd told Saddam Hussain's genocide trial she was horribly burned and lost three children after aircraft bombed her mountain village with chemical weapons.

22 August, 2006
Witness speaks at Anfal trial: On the second day of the second capital trial Saddam Hussain faces, a witness describes how poisonous gas was dropped on his mountain village. "Birds were returning to their nests. I saw eight to 12 jets patrolling the sky. There was greenish smoke from the bombs. There was a smell of rotten apple or garlic. People were vomiting. We were blinded. We were screaming. There was no one to save us, only God," said Iraqi Kurd, Mustafa Hama, the first witness of several to speak at the trial.

On the second day of the second capital trial Saddam Hussain faces, a witness describes how poisonous gas was dropped on his mountain village. "Birds were returning to their nests. I saw eight to 12 jets patrolling the sky. There was greenish smoke from the bombs. There was a smell of rotten apple or garlic. People were vomiting. We were blinded. We were screaming. There was no one to save us, only God," said Iraqi Kurd, Mustafa Hama, the first witness of several to speak at the trial.