Related: Saddam Hussein trial resumes in Baghdad

The trial of Saddam Hussein and his codefendants resumed in Baghdad on Monday. (Photo: Xinhua/REUTERS)

    BAGHDAD, Feb. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- The trial of the ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and seven of his codefendants adjourned on Monday until Tuesday.

    Kurdish chief judge Raouf Abdul Rahman announced the postponement  after three-hour session, during which Saddam and his half brother chanted slogans against U.S. President George W.Bush and hailed the Arab nation.

    Wearing a blue traditional Arab robe with black jacket outside, Saddam was forced to appear in the court with his seven aides.  

    "Down with the agents. Down with Bush. Long live the (Arab) nation," Saddam shouted shortly after he entered the court. 

    After a trouble-plunged start, the court read the testimonies of several complainers without showing them or their names.  

    Prosecutors also brought in two members of Saddam's regime for the first time in an attempt to link Saddam Hussein with the torture and executions that allegedly took place in a 1982 crackdown in the Shiite town of Dujail.

    Ahmed Hussein Khudhayer al-Samarrai, head of Saddam's presidential office during 1984-1991 and 1995-2003, told the court that he was not a proper witness for such case and that he was brought to the court by force. "I am not fit to be witness in this case and I was brought by force."

    The prosecution showed Samarrai some documents related to Dujail case but he said that he did not remember as large numbers of letters and documents passed in his office during these years.  

    The court then summoned another witness Hassan al-Obaidi, a former director of intelligence.

    Saddam and his seven aides are charged with crimes against humanity, including the killing of over 140 Shiite men in Dujail after a failed assassination attempt on Saddam in 1982.  

    If convicted, Saddam and his aides could face the death penalty. 

    The high-profile trial, which started on Oct. 19 last year, has been marred by the killings of two defense lawyers, the resignation of chief judge Rizgar Amin and successive adjournments. Enditem