[JURIST] Raouf Abdel-Rahman [BBC profile], the chief judge in the Saddam Hussein trial [JURIST news archive], read out a report by prosecution experts as the trial resumed Wednesday that authenticated the former leader's signature on several more documents submitted into evidence [trial exhibits]. Reading from the report, Rahman said "The writing and signatures … that are related to Saddam Hussein match his handwriting and signatures." Handwriting experts first testified Monday [JURIST report] that some of the signatures on documents connected with the execution of 148 Shiite villagers belonged to Hussein and Wednesday's report covers additional pieces of evidence submitted by the prosecution. The documents include an execution order [text] allegedly signed by Hussein and Barzan Ibrahim [Trial Watch profile], Hussein's brother-in-law and former director of intelligence. The two have refused to provide handwriting samples [JURIST report], and Barzan claims that his signature was forged. Hussein refuses to confirm or deny that the signatures are his. Ibrahim on Wednesday called the report a "script" authorized by the prosecution and repeated claims for "a non-biased and non-Iraqi committee" of experts. The trial has been adjourned until Monday.

If convicted of the Dujail charges [JURIST report], Hussein and his seven co-defendants could face the death penalty. The prosecution is also preparing a second trial in which Hussein will face genocide charges [JURIST report] involving the killings of over 100,000 Kurds in 1980. AP has more.