The lawyers, including former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, walked out after the judge refused to hear their complaints about the legitimacy of the trial immediately. Hussein stood up, declared the court was appointed by U.S. occupiers and shouted "Long live the Arab state."
Another defendant shouted that the authorities might as well execute them straight away.
Just before that, the prosecution had objected to the presence in the room of Clark, who is an international adviser to the defense team. But the judge allowed Clark to stay.
The trial started on 19 October.
(agencies/CNN)