The defence team in the trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has walked out, on the third day of hearings.

The incident happened after defence lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi questioned the legitimacy of the special Iraqi court.

Saddam Hussein and seven former aides deny charges of murdering 148 men in Dujail, north of Baghdad, following an assassination attempt in 1982.

Two defence lawyers have been murdered in recent weeks and the team has argued it cannot present its case properly.

Up to 10 witnesses have been lined up to describe the Dujail massacre.

Some are expected to have their identities concealed - a practice which analysts say raises concerns about the fairness of the process.

Defence strategy

The defence team has been joined by two international lawyers, including former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark.

The team has challenged the legitimacy of the process - which is being conducted by an Iraqi court set up under a mixture of Iraqi and international statutes.

Defence lawyers have also been demanding additional security arrangements after the murder of the two of their colleagues in recent weeks.

The UN representative for human rights in Iraq, John Pace, criticised the proceedings on Sunday.

"Weakness in the system of administration of justice, in addition to the antecedents surrounding the establishment of this tribunal, will never be able to produce the kind of process that would be able to satisfy international standards," Mr Pace told Reuters news agency.

Saddam Hussein faces the death penalty if convicted.

Ahead of Monday's session, one of the five judges stepped down citing a potential conflict of interest, as one of the co-defendants may have been involved in killing his brother.

Another judge is due to replace him.

During his previous court appearance last week Saddam Hussein upbraided the judge over his treatment by his US captors.

The scenes brought criticism from Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari, who told France's Le Figaro newspaper that the trial should not "become a public relations exercise".

"Saddam behaved as if he was still the president of Iraq," Mr Zebari said.

PHOTO CAPTION

Khalil Dulaimi (C), head attorney for Saddam Hussein, addresses the court as international advisors to Saddam Hussein (L to R) former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, Jordanian Issam Ghazawi, and former Qatari Justice Minister Najib al-Nueimi, look on during Saddam's trial in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone December 5, 2005. (REUTERS)

Source: BBC