Baghdad, Iraq, Nov 28, SPA -- Saddam Hussein and a former U.S.attorney general assembled in the special Green Zonecourtroom as the trial of the ousted leader and sevenothers resumed Monday after a five-week recess. Mortar fireechoed in the center of the Iraqi capital shortly beforethe session began, the Associated Press reported. The former leader pleaded innocent to charges of murder,torture, forced expulsions and illegal detentions at theopening session Oct. 19. The session marked a moment ofsilence in memory of two defense lawyers assassinated sincethe trial began. Saddam complained to the judge Monday about having to walkup four flights of stairs, shackled and escorted by foreignguards. Former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark and formerQatari Justice Minister Najib al-Nueimi were seated withthe defense team inside the heavy guarded room Monday,along with Saddam's chief lawyer Khalil Dulaimi. Chief Judge Rizgar Mohammed Amin ordered all handcuffs andshackles removed from Saddam and the seven co-defendantsbefore they entered the court. Dressed in black trousers and a gray jacket, Saddam wasthe last of the eight to enter, walking with a swagger,appearing cheerful and greeting people with a traditionalArabic greeting "peace be upon the people of peace."--SPA1326 Local Time 1026 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/306095