Boycott forces Saddam trial delay

The court's chief judge warned that the trial, which is nearing a conclusion, would resume on time on 24 July, with court-appointed lawyers if necessary.

Senior defence lawyers walked out of the court on Monday, demanding better security guarantees.

Saddam Hussein and seven co-accused deny crimes against humanity.

The prosecution has demanded the execution of the former president and two others for the deaths of 148 villagers during a crackdown in the village of Dujail after an assassination attempt in 1982.

Closing arguments

Saddam Hussein and three of his co-defendants were not in court on Tuesday.

Adjourning the trial, Chief Judge Raouf Abdel Rahman addressed the lawyers who attended Tuesday's session.

"Tell your colleagues who are out of the country that if they do not show up next time, they will hurt the case of their clients," he said.

The lawyers are boycotting the trial in protest over the killing last month of Khamis al-Obeidi, one of the former Iraqi leader's chief lawyers.

The court had been due to hear closing arguments from lawyers for all eight defendants before the latest delay.

Saddam Hussein and six others will face a second trial in August, on charges relating to the alleged genocide of Kurdish people.