Saddam's trial adjourned until Dec. 21

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-defendants was adjourned Wednesday until Dec. 21 after a truncated session that the ousted president refused to attend.

After two prosecution witnesses described beatings and torture by the regime, Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin adjourned the proceedings and said the court would reconvene Dec. 21, six days after national elections.

(c) 2005 The Associated Press.