Judge in Saddam trial says has considered moving court to Kurdish area

Saddam Hussein's chief trial judge said in remarks released Sunday that he has considered whether the court should move to Kurdish-controlled northern Iraq because of poor security in the capital.

"So far, the situation allows regular and fair proceedings of the court, even if the conditions are admittedly difficult," Rizgar Mohammed Amin was quoted as saying in the German news weekly Focus.

"I have already thought about whether one shouldn't move the court to the Kurdish areas, where the situation is quieter and more security would be assured," Amin said in an interview released ahead of its publication on Monday.

Asked whether such a move could provoke criticism in the Arab media and suggestions that the Kurds were trying to take revenge on Saddam, Amin said: "We are a court and decide according to the law. There is no such thing as revenge for us."

The trial of the former Iraqi leader and seven co-defendants is due to resume Monday, November 28, after a five-week break, the AP reports. There have been repeated calls to move the trial outside of Baghdad or even to another country following the killing of two defense lawyers since the court was adjourned on October 19.

A.M.