DAKAR, Senegal, July 21 (UPI) -- Former Chadian President Hissene Habre was forced to appear in a Senegalese court on charges relating to the deaths and disappearance of thousands of people.
The trial was suspended Tuesday and Habre issued new attorneys after he and his lawyers refused to speak with the judge during the proceedings in Dakar. The new defense team has 45 days to prepare its case, the BBC reports.
Habre, 72, is accused of crimes against humanity stemming from his rule of neighboring Chad between 1982 and 1990. The Chadian Truth Commission in 1992 said he was responsible for 40,000 murders and 200,000 cases of torture during that time.
Following the overthrow of his regime 25 years ago, Habre sought exile in Senegal. In 2005, a Belgian court indicted Habre, but Senegal refused to extradite him.
Senegalese President Macky Sall in 2013 said Habre would be put on trial in Dakar, and based on more than 2,000 witness statements over the course of a 19-month investigation, judges found evidence to charge him with crimes against humanity.
Habre refused to recognize the court's authority and was led shouting along with his supporters from the courtroom on Monday.
The judge reportedly told his newly appointed defense team they had a "duty to defend Hissene Habre even against his will so a fair trial can take place."
The trial will resume Sept. 7. If found guilty, Habre could face life imprisonment.
