Saddam lawyers dispute executions

Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants plead not guilty

The defence team in the trial of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has said 10 out of 148 Shia villagers said to have been executed are in fact alive.

Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants are on trial over the deaths of the 148 people after a failed attempt on Saddam Hussein's life in Dujail in 1982.

"We contest the authenticity of the documents presented in this case," a defence lawyer said in Baghdad.

The defendants have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Witness protest

On Monday, the defence team read out a list of 15 names from the 148, at least 10 of whom it said were still alive.

The lawyers said the other five died natural deaths later or were killed in the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s.

"We... demand the court be halted to investigate the case," the defence lawyers said.

Last week, an anonymous defence witness testified that at least 23 of the 148 people were alive and that he had actually met and eaten with them.

Presiding Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman ordered the defence to provide documents proving its claims.

The defence team also protested over the arrest of four of its witnesses, saying some of them were beaten by Iraqi guards.

The four witnesses were held on suspicion of making false statements.

Saddam Hussein's lawyers started presenting their witnesses last month after the prosecution completed its case.

After a brief Monday session, the trial was adjourned until 12 June.