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Saddam prosecutors show graphic video of dead

19 Dec 2006 11:54:13 GMT
Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Prosecutors in Saddam Hussein's trial for genocide against ethnic Kurds showed graphic footage on Tuesday of dead civilians, including infants, allegedly killed in chemical attacks on their villages.

Chief prosecutor Munqith al-Faroon also showed the court a memo that praised a Dutch businessman who was convicted in December 2005 for supplying Baghdad with banned chemical weapons that were used in the offensive that prosecutors say killed more than 180,000 Kurds.

Faroon said the video footage was shot in several areas that were bombed with mustard gas. One scene showed a man picking up the bodies of two infants and placing them onto the back of a pickup truck.

"I want you to view these dead children because these are the 'honourable battles' that Sultan Hashim speaks of," said Faroon in a reference to comments by one of Saddam's co- defendants on Monday who said the military campaign was to defend Iraq from its enemies.

In another shot, a dead infant lay on the corpse of his mother.

Faroon, attempting to implicate Saddam and his six co- defendants for the Anfal (Spoils of War) campaign, showed the court an internal memo that praised Dutch businessman Frans van Anraat for his role in providing banned weapons.

After he was granted Iraqi citizenship on personal orders by Saddam, van Anraat fled Iraq after the dictator was toppled and in December 2005 was convicted and sentenced to 15 years in prison after being found guilty of complicity in war crimes.

"He supplied our institutions ... with rare and banned chemical weapons," read the memo dated 1992 which circulated inside the president's office.

Saddam said on Monday he would take responsibility "with honour" for any attacks on Iran using conventional or chemical weapons during the eight-year war.

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Last updated:Tue Dec 19 11:56:00 2006