Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein gestures as he addresses Presiding Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin during his trial held under tight security in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone December 6, 2005. (Reuters photo)

    The defendants entered the courtroom and took their seats in the dock to hear the witnesses over the massacre of 148 Shiite villagers in Dujail, north of Baghdad, in 1982 after Saddam survived an assassination attempt there.

    All accused pled not guilty. If convicted, they may face death penalty.

    The third session of Saddam's trial opened on Monday and the first witness testified, but it was adjourned till Tuesday, the third adjournment since Oct. 19.

Saddam trial cuts audio of female witness

    The court trying saddam Hussein and his seven co-defendants has cut the audio of the first female witness as she wanted to speak her voice not being identified.

    The woman sat behind a green screen and began to testify with her voice being disguised with echo, but the defense team objected as her voice was difficult to understand.

    Chief judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin, ordered to cut the audio and let the code named "Witness A" to speak in her normal voice. People in the visitor's gallery and the press could not hear the woman's testimony. The judge, then, ordered a brief recess to solve the problem.

    The trial of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and seven of his top aides resumed on Tuesday in the heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, one day after the third session was adjourned.

    All accused pled not guilty over the massacre of 148 Shiite villagers in Dujail, north of Baghdad, in 1982 after Saddam survived an assassination attempt there.

    If convicted, they may face death penalty. Enditem