Iraqi lawyer to defend Saddam

AFP - Saddam Hussein's Jordan-based defence team has chosen an Iraqi lawyer to defend the deposed dictator in court, and some of its members plan to travel soon to Baghdad, one of the lawyers told AFP.
"The defence team chose on Sunday an Iraqi lawyer," who will represent Saddam in front of the Iraqi Special Tribunal in accordance with Iraqi law, Jordanian lawyer Issam Ghazzawi told AFP.
Yesterday, the head of the defence team, Mohammed Rashdan, told AFP he received a call from the head of the tribunal, Salem Chalabi, who told him that only an Iraqi lawyer could represent Saddam in court.
Ghazzawi declined to identify the lawyer "for his own security and out of fear of reprisals" but said "he was chosen from among 20 Iraqi lawyers who volunteered."
He also announced that members of the defence team as well a number of "volunteers" will be leaving Amman for Baghdad in three or four days.
"We will hold a meeting Wednesday in Amman of lawyers and volunteers during which those who wish to go to Iraq will register their names," Ghazzawi said.
"On Thursday or Friday the group will travel to Iraq by convoy, in cars and buses, accompanied by a number of British, American and French journalists, as well as others who may wish to go," he added.
He said the presence of journalists "is the most adequate formula" in the absence of an "international protection".
Members of the defence team have accused some Iraqi officials of warning them against going to Iraq and have accused the US-led coalition of rejecting their repeated requests to meet with Saddam.
Last month they called on the United States, the International Committee of the Red Cross and several countries to provide them with international protection.
Rashdan and two other lawyers, Ziad Khassawneh and Hatem Shahin, meanwhile left for Libya to meet with Aisha Gaddafi, a daughter of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, who has also joined Saddam's defence team.
"We want to discuss with our committee there the latest developments, to exchange views and prepare reports," Rashdan told AFP before leaving.
"We also expect to meet Doctor Aisha because she is now a member of the committee," he said.
Ghazzawi said Gaddafi became the 21st member of the defence team, which also includes European and American lawyers appointed by Saddam's wife and three daughters.
In addition, around "1,500 volunteers, 400 American professors and 200 consultants from different countries, including France and Latin American nations" back the defence team, Ghazzawi said.

©AAP 2004