Emad al-Faroon - brother of Munquith al-Faroon - was shot dead in the west of the Iraqi capital in front of his wife by unidentified attackers who burst into his home.

Tuesday's court session was expected to hear more testimony about alleged atrocities committed by Saddam's forces during the Anfal military campaign against the Kurds in 1988, in which tens of thousands of people are believed to have died.

Settling scores

Saddam Hussein's statement was dictated to his lawyers and published as an open letter on Monday.

"The hour of liberation is at hand, God willing. But remember that your near-term goal is confined to freeing your country from the forces of occupation and their followers, and not to be preoccupied in settling scores," he said.

The former Iraqi leader and his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid are charged with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Anfal campaign.

Four others are charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. All seven face the death penalty if they are convicted by the panel of judges.

Last week the presiding judge threw Saddam Hussein out of court in a raucous session during which witnesses testified that Kurdish women were raped while in detention.

In a separate trial, Saddam Hussein and seven other co-defendants are awaiting a verdict concerning the deaths and torture of Shia Muslims during a crackdown in the village of Dujail in 1980s.

A verdict in this trial is expected next month.