The trial of Saddam Hussein and seven co-accused of crimes against humanity entered its final day on Thursday with the appearance of former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, but the former Iraqi leader did not attend.

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein gestures during final arguments in his trial in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone July 26, 2006.[Reuters]

Ramadan's lawyers boycotted the proceedings and he said he would defend himself.

Saddam and the seven are charged with the killing of 148 Shi'ites after an attempt on his life in Dujail in 1982. Saddam faces a second trial on charges of genocide against Iraq's ethnic Kurds in a month.