This is getting ridiculous:

Saddam Hussein has been ejected from his trial in Baghdad for the third time in a week after arguing with the judge. His removal came shortly after Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa gave him a stern warning to behave himself.

The defence team representing Saddam Hussein and his six co-defendants are boycotting the trial in protest at what they say is government interference…

The former Iraqi leader was ejected after repeatedly refusing to be quiet in court. “You are a defendant and I’m a judge,” said Chief Judge al-Khalifa in response to his outbursts.

As co-defendants began to protest, he continued: “Shut up, no-one talk … the court decided to eject Saddam Hussein from court.” Co-defendant and former Iraqi defence minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad al-Tai was also removed, the Associated Press news agency reported.

The judge opened the proceedings with a stern lecture to the former Iraqi leader. “You are a defendant here. You have rights and obligations,” he said. “You can defend yourself, question witnesses … and I am ready to allow you, but this is a court, not a political arena. “By disrespecting the court, you are only damaging your cause.”

Saddam Hussein responded by reading out a long statement from a piece of paper, but courtroom microphones were cut off.

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