Saddam Hussein?s trial for the killing of 180,000 Kurds in the 1980s resumed yesterday with the late dictator?s seat empty, nine days after he was executed. The court?s first order of business was to drop all charges against Saddam.

Six co-defendants still face charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for their roles in a military campaign code-named Operation Anfal during the 1980-88 Iraq- Iran war.

Shortly after the court reconvened yesterday, a bailiff called out the names of the accused and the six men walked silently into the courtroom one after another.

Chief Judge Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa said the court decided to stop all legal action against the former president, since ?the death of defendant Saddam was confirmed.? Saddam was sentenced to death for the killing of 148 Shiites and hanged on December 30 in a chaotic execution that has drawn global criticism for the Shiite-dominated government.

?Chemical Ali ?

All seven defendants in the Anfal case, including Saddam, had pleaded innocent to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity. Saddam and one other man also pleaded innocent to the additional charge of genocide.

The six remaining defendants ? all senior members of Saddam?s ousted regime ? include his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as ?Chemical Ali? for his alleged use of chemical weapons against Iraqi Kurds.

The other defendants are former Defense Minister Sultan Hashim al-Tai, who was the commander of Task Force Anfal and head of the Iraqi army 1st Corps; Sabir al-Douri, Saddam?s military intelligence chief; Taher Tawfiq al-Ani, former governor of Mosul and head of the Northern Affairs Committee; Hussein Rashid Mohammed, former deputy director of operations for the Iraqi Armed Forces and Farhan Mutlaq Saleh, former head of military intelligence?s eastern regional office.

Democrats warn Bush on Iraq plans

The newly-empowered US Democrats have warned President George W Bush he will have to justify any plans to boost troop levels in Iraq.

House leader Nancy Pelosi said there would be ?no blank cheque? for Bush.

The president is expected to outline a new strategy this week that may include 20,000 more US troops for Baghdad.

Reports suggest Bush intends to attach strong conditions to any increase, such as specific targets for Iraq?s security and political progress.

The Democrats took over Congress for the first time in 12 years last week, giving them a shift in power which could lead to challenges to the authority of the White House.

Ms Pelosi described the conflict in Iraq as a war without end which the American people had rejected.

She told CBS News programme Face the Nation that up until now the Republicans had given Mr Bush a blank cheque, with no oversight, standards or conditions.

Congress is ready to use its constitutional authority of oversight to question what is the justification for this spending, what are the results we are receiving,? she said

However, Ms Pelosi said the Democrats would not cut off money for troops already in Iraq.

Another top Democrat, Steny Hoyer, told another US television show the expected proposal by Bush for a $1bn boost for the Iraq economy would also ?get careful scrutiny and oversight?. Some Republicans have said there should be no Congress block on financing. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said: ?Congress is incapable of micromanaging the tactics in the war.? And Democrat Senator Joe Biden added: ?As a practical matter, there?s no way to say, ?Mr President, stop?.?

Pelosi and Senate majority leader Harry Reid sent a letter to Bush last week saying there should be no increase in troops, but instead there should be the start of a phased withdrawal.

Bush is continuing briefings with lawmakers this week ahead of a speech expected as early as tomorrow.