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Iraq trial sees video of Ali 'planning chemical attacks'

BAGHDAD, Jan 8, 2007 (AFP) - The prosecutor at the genocide trial of six former Iraqi regime officials played video footage on Monday it said showed key accused Ali Hassan al-Majid threatening to bomb the Kurds using chemical weapons.

"I will attack them with chemical weapons," Majid, also known as "Chemical Ali", is heard shouting twice in the video.

Pictured wearing a military uniform, Ali also expresses complete disregard for expected international criticism.

"To hell with the international community," he shouts.

The footage presented in court by prosecutor Munqith al-Faroon also showed pictures of children and women killed by chemical weapon attacks.

"We see families... men, women, children... weeping. I want the whole world to look at these pictures, these children, these human bodies," Faroon said.

"There is a child here on the chest of his mother. Take a look at this child and the burns on his skin. Are they saboteurs, agents for Iran?"

Majid, wearing traditional Arab dress, sat listening silently to the prosecutor.

The genocide trial resumed on Monday without fallen Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who was executed nine days ago for crimes against humanity in a separate trial.

The court dropped all charges against Saddam in the genocide case.