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Post by Shadow on Jan 18, 2006 19:39:12 GMT -5
BBCThe body set up to remove Baath party members from positions of power in Iraq has raised objections against the judge in charge of Saddam Hussein's trial. The Iraq Commission said Said Hameesh was a member of the former ruling party and should be barred from the case. Mr Hameesh, who is due to chair the panel of judges when the trial resumes next week, has denied being a Baathist. The chief judge, Rizgar Amin, quit last week, accusing the government of interfering in the case. A permanent replacement has not been named yet but Mr Hameesh will preside over the case next week as he is the most senior remaining judge on the panel of five. 'No relationship' Iraq Commission chief Ali Faisal called for him to resign, saying he was the subject of a de-Baathification inquiry. "His presence in this court violates the statutes... and he must be replaced," he said. Ali al-Lami, the Iraq Commission's executive director, said a formal objection had been sent to the Iraqi High Tribunal. While the judge was not immediately available for comment, chief prosecutor Jaafar al-Moussawi defended him, saying court officials would want to see evidence before withdrawing support for him.
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