[JURIST] Saddam Hussein's genocide trial [JURIST news archive] resumed Monday with testimony from witnesses describing how Hussein's soldiers executed civilians during the "Anfal" campaigns [HRW backgrounder] against ethnic Kurds in northern Iraq from 1987 to 1988. All seven defendants appeared in court, though several were represented by court-appointed lawyers while members of the defense team continue their boycott [JURIST report] of the proceedings.

In a separate case and ruling issued earlier this month, Hussein was sentenced to death [JURIST report] for crimes against humanity [charging instrument, PDF] committed in the Iraqi town of Dujail [JURIST news archive; BBC trial timeline]. An appeals panel is expected to rule [JURIST report] on the verdict and sentence by mid-January 2007. Prosecutors hope to complete the Anfal trial before Hussein is executed. BBC News has more.