(March 12, 2006)—Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein was due back in court Sunday in Baghdad as his crimes against humanity trial resumes.

Saddam and his co-defendants could be hanged if they’re convicted in the executions of Shiites after an assassination attempt more than 20 years ago.

During the last session of the trial in late February, the chief prosecutor showed a series of documents outlining the operation behind a crackdown that resulted in 148 executions and nearly 400 imprisonments in 1982.

They followed an attempt on Saddam's life.

Saddam says the allegedly incriminating documents only show "an informing operation" run by regime members.

The trial resumes just days after Iraq carried out the first executions of militants since the U.S. toppled Saddam’s regime.

Iraq reinstated the death penalty after the U.S. announced in June of 2004 that Iraqi officials were in control.

Last week, 13 convicted militants were put to death.

The Cabinet only named one of the executed inmates.

It says he was a former policeman in Mosul, who allegedly confessed to working with Syrian fighters and recruiting militants.

An official at the Supreme Judiciary Council says the militants were convicted in separate trials in Baghdad.

Hanging Saddam, however, would mean more violence, more bloodshed and lasting divisions in Iraq, according to former U.S.
Attorney General Ramsey Clark, who argues that the former dictator can’t get a fair trial.

"There are few facts that could greater inflame passions and divide irreconcilably the people of Iraq than a conviction and severe punishment, especially execution, of President Saddam Hussein," Clark said.

An Associated Press-Ipsos poll released last week, however, shows that almost six out of ten Americans want Saddam to be executed if he’s convicted.