Nevermind

Remember that post yesterday about the beginning of the trial of Saddam Hussein? Well, never mind. After apearing in court and having a "not guilty" plea entered for him, Hussein's trial was continued until late November. Not that it was your average arraignment-style hearing, mind you:

Asked to confirm his name by the chief judge, Rizgar Mohammed Amin, a Kurd, Saddam Hussein refused.

Amid some verbal sparring with the judge, the former Iraqi leader stated: 'I preserve my constitutional rights as the president of Iraq. I do not recognise the body that has authorised you and I don't recognise this aggression.

'What is based on injustice is unjust ... I do not respond to this so-called court, with all due respect.'

Wonder if the flags have the wrong fringe on them? Meanwhile, opinion on the trial in Iraq itself is, not surpisingly, mixed:

In Dujail [the site of the first alleged attrocity for which Hussein will be tried], a few demonstrators gathered in the main square chanting: 'Saddam Hussein should be executed, him and his whole family.'

But in the former leader's home town of Tikrit, supporters vowed loyalty to Saddam Hussein with a banner saying: 'We sacrifice our blood and soul for you, Saddam.'

Change of venue, anybody?