Who woulda thunk it? Saddam Hussein was making political speeches as he testifed for the first time in his trial.

BAGHDAD, Iraq -Saddam Hussein testified for the first time at his trial Wednesday, insisting he was still Iraq’s head of state. But the chief judge soon closed the proceedings to the public, saying the former Iraqi leader was making political speeches in his testimony.

The deposed president, wearing a black suit and standing before the chief judge, called the trial a “comedy.”

[...]

Chief judge Raouf Abdel-Rahman interrupted saying he was not allowed to give political speeches in the court.

“I am the head of state,” Saddam replied.

“You used to be a head of state. You are a defendant now,” Abdel-Rahman said.

Yup.