I'm not afraid of being executed: Saddam

Iraq's ousted dictator Saddam Hussein said this in his trial on charge of crimes against humanity.

Iraq's ousted dictator Saddam Hussein said on Monday in his trial on charge of crimes against humanity that he was "not afraid of being executed" if found guilty.

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Saddam dismissed the testimony of the prosecution witness in the case of massacre of almost 150 Shi'ite villagers in 1982 and criticised the presiding judge, while referring to him with respect as "your honour".

"I'm not afraid of being executed," he said, asking however for the judge "not to interrupt him, to give time" for his defence.

Ahmed Mohammed Hassan al-Dujaili, 38, the first witness to speak in person at the trial of Saddam and seven other defendants testified with harrowing details of the torture and interrogation of Shi'ite villagers.

The accused have pleaded not guilty.