Baghdad, Feb 13, SPA -- Saddam Hussein appeared in court for his trial on Monday saying he was forced to attend and immediately relaunched tirades that have dominated proceedings, a Reuters witness said. The toppled leader, who staged a boycott, refused an offer of new court-appointed lawyers to replace his defense team, which is still staging a boycott. He appeared with his seven co-accused. "This is not a court, this is a game," said Saddam, who still calls himself the president of Iraq. Saddam and his half-brother and former intelligence chief Barzan al-Tikriti began interrupting chief judge Raouf Abdel Rahman shortly after proceedings began. Chief prosecutor Ja'afar Moussawi signaled on Sunday that the court had lost patience with Saddam and his co-defendants, who include former top aides. Moussawi said they would be forced to attend if they refuse. "I was forced into the courtroom. Exercise your right and sentence me in absentia," Saddam told the judge. --SPA 13 30 Local Time 10 30 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/330046