"Absent of" ~= "without"

[Mark A. Mandel]

Headline in today's New York Times: "Absent of Defendants, Hussein Trial Is 
Postponed". The article begins:
     >>>>>
BAGHDAD, Iraq, Feb. 2 — The trial of Saddam Hussein was postponed again 
today after the former president and the four other main defendants 
continued their boycott.
  <<<<<

-- Mark A. Mandel
[This text prepared with Dragon NaturallySpeaking.]