The trial of Tariq Aziz, international face of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime, has resumed, but without the new legal team he demanded three weeks ago.

The team of French and Italian lawyers have not been given Iraqi visas and it is unclear who will represent Mr Aziz.

The former foreign minister is accused over the deaths of 42 traders executed for sanctions profiteering in 1992.

Mr Aziz, 72, denies the charges against him. If found guilty, he could face the death penalty or be jailed for life.

Mr Aziz is on trial in Baghdad with former regime strongman Ali Hassan al-Majid, who is already on death row, and six others.

Mr Aziz entered the courtroom using a walking stick. He was dressed in a grey suit without a tie.

The BBC's Caroline Wyatt in Baghdad says Mr Aziz never lost his faith in Saddam Hussein, and reportedly wept when the former Iraqi leader was sentenced to death.

His own trial opened three weeks ago, but was stopped immediately when he demanded a new legal team.

His new legal team includes Frenchman Jacques Verges - known as "the Devil's advocate" because he has a history of defending clients including Nazi war criminal Klaus Barbie - as well as four Italian lawyers and a French-Lebanese.

Mr Aziz was among the ruling figures who signed the death warrant of 42 merchants accused of raising food prices during international sanctions after the first Gulf War.

In addition to Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", another of Mr Aziz's co-accused is Saddam Hussein's half-brother, Watban Ibrahim al-Hassan.

The trial is being conducted by the Iraqi High Tribunal, which was set up to try members of the former regime, and is being presided over by the same judge who sent Saddam Hussein to the gallows in December 2006.

Mr Aziz's family say that after five years in captivity, he is too ill with lung disease to face trial and that he cannot hope to receive a fair hearing under the current Iraqi government.    

PHOTO CAPTION:

Tariq Aziz

BBC