THE STOP/START trial of deposed Iraqi despot Saddam Hussein on charges of crimes against humanity, which was to resume yesterday after a month’s delay, was again postponed.

The court put the hearing off until Sunday, the eighth major delay since the trial began three months ago, because some witnesses were unable to attend, said investigating judge Raed al-Juhi.

“Due to the fact some of the complainants could not make it to attend the court, some of them are out of Iraq and some are on pilgrimage, the court decided to postpone the session until Sunday,” he said.

Saddam and seven co-defendants face murder and torture charges over the massacre of more than 140 Shiite people following an attempt on Saddam’s life in 1982 in the village of Dujail.  If found guilty, Saddam and his cronies could be hanged.

On Monday, Kurdish magistrate Rauf Rashid Abdel Rahman was appointed at the last minute as chief judge to replace Rizkar Mohammed Amin who quit after he was criticized for being too lenient with the defendants.

The most recent appointment came after first choice Amin replacement, Judge Sayeed al-Hamashi was forced to resign after less than a week in the hotseat, following revelations he was being investigated by Iraq's Debaathification Committee for alleged close links to the former Saddam regime.

Rahman, who until yesterday had remained anonymous for security reasons, is said to have been initially unwilling to take over the role. However, a court official said: " We were running out of judges; don't forget there are just five in the panel."

Yesterday’s trial had been expected to hear testimony from more complainant witnesses whose identities were likely to be disguised for fear of violent reprisals.

Officials have said this first in an anticipated series of trials against Saddam could stretch at least until late May or June, if there are no more major delays. 

The new chief judge was born in Halabja, the Kurdish town which became a symbol of repression in 1988 when Saddam’s forces unleashed chemical weapons on its inhabitants, killing several thousand villagers.

“He will remain as presiding judge until such a time as an official decision is taken on whether to accept judge Rizkar’s resignation,” al-Juhi said Monday.

The Iraqi government has yet to accept Amin’s resignation.  If accepted the five-member court panel will vote on a permanent new chief judge.  Amin has said he would not withdraw his resignation.