Region | Iraq
Saddam hunger strike claim denied
The chief lawyer representing Saddam Hussein said Sunday he was wrong in reporting that the former Iraqi leader and seven co-defendants would begin a hunger strike to protest the "illegality" of the court hearing their case.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:00 February 12, 2006
Amman & Baghdad: The chief lawyer representing Saddam Hussein said Sunday he was wrong in reporting that the former Iraqi leader and seven co-defendants would begin a hunger strike to protest the "illegality" of the court hearing their case.
Khalil Al Dulaimi had initially reported that the fast was to begin on Monday.
"I checked and I was told that the sources were not credible and that there will be no hunger strike on Monday," Al Dulaim told reporterss.
He said he received the information through sources at the "detention center" where Saddam and the other defendants are being held.
Correcting his remarks, Al Dulaimi insisted that all eight defendants, including Saddam, still would boycott the resumption of their trial Monday in Baghdad.
"Saddam and his followers will start a hunger strike from tomorrow, protesting the illegitimate procedures and bad treatment by the court," Khamis Al Aubeidi, a leading member of Saddam's defence team, had told reporters in Baghdad.
Saddam's defense team walked out of the trial in a stormy January 29 session and has refused to participate unless the chief judge, Raouf Abduel Rahman, is dismissed, alleging he is biased against the deposed Iraqi leader.
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