Saddam Hussein has told the court trying him on charges of crimes against humanity that he and his co-defendants have launched a hunger strike.
The former Iraqi President said they had been on hunger strike for the past three days.
The trial has been adjourned until 28 February.
The start of today's session was again marked by heated exchanges between the defendants and presiding judge Rauf Abdel Rahman, who has taken a tough line since taking over the trial after his predecessor resigned in January.
All eight defendants were present this morning for the proceedings.
Dressed once more in his trademark black business suit, the ex-President shouted 'God is great' and 'long live the great Arab nation' before taking his seat in the dock.
He is charged over a massacre of villagers from the Shi'ite village of Dujail in the 1980s.
His half brother and former secret police chief Barzan al-Tikriti entered the court looking very weak and wearing the same informal pyjama-like clothing as he wore for yesterday's session.
Three officials from Saddam's regime were to testify today about the events surrounding the massacre.
Fadhil al-Azzawi, who identified himself as a diplomat who retired in 1996 and said he was an ambassador in the Soviet Union in 1982, said he was unwilling to give evidence, and had been forced to come to court.
Two other officials yesterday made the same complaint.
