Defence lawyers in Saddam Hussein's trial for crimes against humanity began closing arguments today.
Saddam Hussein during his trial
But Saddam and the six other accused, as well as Saddam's main lawyers, were absent as a minor Baath party official from the town of Dujail told the court he played no role in a crackdown on Shias in 1982.
It was unclear whether the others stayed away in protest or because they were not required at the hearing.
But Saddam's chief lawyer had said he would boycott proceedings in protest against the killing of his deputy last month. Defence lawyers blamed his death on pro-government Shia militias.
The prosecution has demanded the death penalty for Saddam and three of his former senior aides for their roles in the killings, torture and executions that followed an attempt on the Iraqi leader's life in Dujail. Once final statements have been made, a five-judge panel is expected to adjourn to consider a verdict.
Officials close to the court say a verdict on Dujail could come in September.
A death sentence may be delayed by appeals and the many other trials the toppled leader is likely to face for alleged crimes during his Sunni-dominated rule, most of them against the Shias and Kurds now in power.
Saddam and his former top army commanders face a separate trial on August 21st on genocide charges stemming from the killing of tens of thousands of Iraqi Kurds in a 1988 military operation to force them from their villages.