Blair's envoy: British Prime Minister Tony Blair's human rights envoy for Iraq urged the new government to complete investigations into police abuses and to free thousands of prisoners held in Iraqi and U.S. military prisons.
Ann Clwyd had high praise for the conduct of the trial of Saddam Hussein, calling a visit to the court during a trip to Baghdad a personal high point after years campaigning to indict the former president for crimes against humanity.
Clwyd, a member of Parliament for Blair's Labor Party, said she was heartened by meeting members of the unity government, including the new human rights minister.
Hussein trial: The judge in Saddam Hussein's trial ejected a spectator from the courtroom after lawyers accused the man of belonging to a Shiite militia and threatening the defense team.
The removal was a reminder of the conflicts raging outside the courtroom during a trial that has moved quickly in the past month, with defense witnesses testifying in the case against Hussein and seven former members of his regime.
Eight witnesses took the stand yesterday, insisting that Hussein was not seeking revenge against Shiites when he launched a sweep of arrests after a 1982 assassination attempt in Dujail and that 148 people sentenced to death got a fair trial.
Boats scuttled: U.S.-led and Iraqi forces scuttled 32 boats to prevent insurgents from using them to move men and supplies across the Tigris River near the city of Dhuluiya, scene of recent clashes.
