Hussein's tactic: delay and defy

Hussein, for his part, attacked the whole premise behind the court. "I do not respond to this so-called court ... and I retain my constitutional rights as the president,'' he said when asked to give his name, ignoring the judge's efforts to get him to answer the question. " Nor do I recognize the body that has [authorized] you, nor the aggression behind it."

While there are some comparisons to the Milosevic trial, who was tried by the International Criminal Court at the Hague, the major difference is that this is not an exercise in international justice. The whole process, legally, is an Iraqi one, which has some worried that stringent standards won't be followed.

Also, unlike Milosevic, if Hussein is convicted for the massacre in Dujail, he could face the death penalty.

"We have grave concerns that the court will not provide the fair trial guarantees required by international law," said Richard Dicker, director of Human Rights Watch's international justice program, in a press release.

Among those on trial with Hussein are Barzan Ibrahim al-Hasan, the former head of his feared intelligence service, and Taha Yasin Ramadan, a former deputy prime minister.

As he was escorted from the court at the end of the day, Hussein shook off the hands of his guards and angrily confronted them. He was eventually allowed to leave the court under his own steam.

"He deserves death but if not, we don't care, [we want] just any justice," says Abu Dania, a barber, who used a false name for security reasons, as a television mounted above the mirrors of the shop blared the proceedings in Arabic. "All that has happened here is because of Saddam Hussein. Now there is a new democratic government and we think the success of this trial is necessary."

Though most Iraqis want convictions, and there was fascination with Hussein's plight on the streets Wednesday, few say the trial actually has much relevance to the country's war and the day-to-day struggles it brings on.

For many, like Abu Rami, who watched the trial in his money-exchange shop in Baghdad, the trial has little to do with the problems he faces in his daily life.

"I don't believe this trial will change anything. People are concerned about living. Electricity, security, traffic jams - people don't care about the former president and it will not change the way we are living and not change the future of Iraqis," says Abu Rami, who also declined to give his full name.

Showing the proceedings on TV was key to their credibility, but that failed to earn the trust of some Iraqis already suspicious of American intentions and the current government dominated by parties that spent decades trying to depose Hussein.

"I wonder if those judges are up to international standards?" asks Abu Rami. "The ones who are really judging him are the Americans and the old opposition groups so it will not be fair for [Hussein]."

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