Lawyer retracts Saddam hunger strike threat

BAGHDAD – The troubled trial of Saddam Hussein was hit by fresh confusion yesterday when his chief defence lawyer said the former Iraqi leader planned to go on hunger strike, but then retracted his statement minutes later.

Chief defence counsel Khalil Dulaimi and his deputy Khamis al-Aubeidi had said Saddam and his seven co-accused would start refusing food when their trial resumed today to protest against the legitimacy of the US-backed court trying them. Shortly afterwards, however, Dulaimi conceded that his information was wrong.”We have now checked and it seems almost certain that the president no longer plans a hunger strike at least tomorrow as we thought earlier …though some of his colleagues may,” he told Reuters in Amman.”The idea was being discussed, but we now have conclusive information the hunger strike is not on Monday.”Saddam and some of his former top aides have not attended the last two court sessions, having followed the lead of their defence counsel, who walked out of court on Jan.29.Three minor Baath party officials were then barred from the last session on Feb.2 for “causing chaos” outside the courtroom.A source in the Iraqi High Tribunal said Saddam and his associates would be forced to attend today’s session of the trial, which has been beset by delays, postponements and courtroom chaos since it began in October.- Nampa-ReutersShortly afterwards, however, Dulaimi conceded that his information was wrong.”We have now checked and it seems almost certain that the president no longer plans a hunger strike at least tomorrow as we thought earlier …though some of his colleagues may,” he told Reuters in Amman.”The idea was being discussed, but we now have conclusive information the hunger strike is not on Monday.”Saddam and some of his former top aides have not attended the last two court sessions, having followed the lead of their defence counsel, who walked out of court on Jan.29.Three minor Baath party officials were then barred from the last session on Feb.2 for “causing chaos” outside the courtroom.A source in the Iraqi High Tribunal said Saddam and his associates would be forced to attend today’s session of the trial, which has been beset by delays, postponements and courtroom chaos since it began in October.- Nampa-Reuters