The trial of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and his seven co-defendants has been adjourned - shortly after it resumed for the day with none of the defendants present in the court.
Chief judge Rauf Abdel Rahman allowed two prosecution witnesses to testify Thursday, and then adjourned the trial until February 13.
Before the session, the judge said he decided to proceed without the defendants because some of them had refused to attend while others were causing "chaos."
Saddam and four co-defendants were also absent from Wednesday's session.
Defense lawyers are also boycotting the court. They want the chief judge to resign, accusing him of bias against their clients.
The former Iraqi dictator and his co-defendants are on trial for the killing of more than 140 Shi'ites in the village of Dujail following a 1982 assassination attempt against Saddam.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.