mordant wit

The defence team in the trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has walked out of court, throwing the third day of hearings into disarray.

The incident happened after the chief judge refused to allow defence lawyers to address the special Iraqi court in Baghdad to question its legitimacy.

Saddam Hussein and seven former aides deny involvement in a 1982 massacre.

The defence argues it cannot present its case properly. Two defence lawyers have been murdered in recent weeks.

Shortly after Monday's hearing began, the defence engaged in a heated exchange with presiding judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin.

Lawyers demanded to speak to question the legality of the court and security measures for the defence.

But the judge said the court had already ruled on those issues, and that only written complaints would be considered.

"This is the law," he said.

Saddam Hussein replied that the law had been created by the Americans and the hearing descended into chaos.

Barzan al-Tikriti, Saddam's half-brother, stood up in the dock and shouted: "Long live Iraq! Long live Arabs! Down with the dictators! Long live democracy!"