A combative Saddam Hussein on Wednesday challenged the legitimacy of the Iraqi tribunal set up to try him and insisted he remained the constitutional president of Iraq, in a dramatic opening of a trial that was quickly adjourned until next month.

Mr Hussein and his seven co-defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them, concerning the collective punishment of the citizens of Dujail, site of a 1982 attempt on his life, in which nearly 150 were killed.