BAGHDAD, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The chief judge presiding Iraqi ousted president Saddam Hussein's second trail on genocide has been replaced, Al-Iraqiya state television reported on Tuesday.

    The station did not give any reason for this change, but the Iraqi government reportedly has requested the court to sack Judge Abdullah al-Amiri, saying he had lost "neutrality".

    Al-Iraqiya didn't mention the name of the new judge. The court could not be immediately reached to confirm this.

    Saddam and his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majeed, known as "Chemical Ali," and five others were charged for their alleged involvement in anti-Kurdish Anfal campaign in late 1980s.

    Chief prosecutor Munqith al-Faroon has demanded resign of al-Amiri for alleged being biased toward the defendants, after he allowed Saddam to lash out at Kurdish witnesses in the court. Al-Amiri even told the former leader in a session last week that "you were not a dictator." Enditem

Chief judge in Saddam's 2nd trial reportedly sacked

BAGHDAD, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) -- The chief judge presiding Iraqi ousted president Saddam Hussein's second trail on genocide has been replaced, Al-Iraqiya state television reported on Tuesday.

Saddam trial resumes in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- The trial of Iraq's toppled leader Saddam Hussein and six of his co-defendants resumed in a Baghdad court on Monday after a four-day break.

Trial of Saddam resumes in Baghdad

BAGHDAD, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- The trial of the deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein resumed in a Baghdad court on Wednesday as the chief judge was asked to step down.

Saddam trial suspends until Tuesday

BAGHDAD, Sept. 11 (Xinhua)-- The trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein suspended until Tuesday following the testimony of three witnesses on Monday.