Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein (front row C) addresses the court during his trial in Baghdad December 22, 2005. (Xinhua/Reuters)

    BAGHDAD, Dec. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Iraq's former president Saddam Hussein said Thursday that he was tortured by the US forces,accusing the US authorities as the "liar number one in the world."

    "The White House are liars," Saddam said during the seventh session of his trial, which resumed Thursday from an adjournment on Wednesday.

    "They said Iraq had chemical weapons. They lied again when they deny that I was beaten by the US forces, but I say I have my wounds documented by three American medical teams," said the ousted Iraqi leader.

    "I have been hit by the Americans and tortured," Saddam told the court, adding "I've been beaten on every place of my body and the signs are all over my body."

    US officials strongly denied the allegations.

    In Thursday's proceedings, the court heard a new witness, who was eight years old during the massacre of Dujail in 1982.

    The witness, speaking from behind a curtain and with his voice disguised, said that several male and female members of his family had been arrested, tortured and that his male relatives have never been seen again.

    Another witness also gave his testimony behind a screen and with disguised voice.

    Thursday's session also witnessed some bickering between the defense and the prosecution teams.

    The defense team demanded punishment for a guard in the courtroom and demands the judge to send him out."This guard is a danger on our clients and on us," said the team.

    The defense team threatened to withdraw from the court if the court do not order the guard to depart the courtroom.

    Presiding judge Rizgar Amin solved the problem and changed the policeman.

    On the prosecution team, one of its members asked to leave the courtroom if the defiant defendants do not stop their insult to the prosecution team, but the judge refused his demand.

    Saddam's half brother and co-defendant Barzan Ibrahim accused the prosecutors of being Baath party members, which ruled Iraqi during the Saddam regime.

    "This is the biggest insult I received in my life, to be a member of this bloody party," one of the three prosecutors replied.

    Judge Amin then ordered an hour recess.

    The trial on Saddam and his co-defendants have been on and off since it started in October.

    If convicted, Saddam could be put to death. Enditem

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Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein speaks during his trial in Baghdad December 22, 2005. (Xinhua/Reuters)

Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein addresses the court during his trial in Baghdad December 22, 2005. (Xinhua/Reuters)