Saddam asks to meet Ramsey ClarkMonday 25 July 2005 - Lawyers for former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein have said he has asked to meet a former US attorney general who is a member of his defence team, but he is yet to hear from the authorities.
A statement on Monday issued by the team, which goes by the acronym ISNAD, said Saddam asked the special tribunal set up to try him for a meeting with former US attorney general Ramsey Clark, but his request had not been answered yet.
The statement, which was sent to Aljazeera.net, said the team's representative in Baghdad, lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi, had met Saddam on Thursday,
The statement expressed concern over the lack of access for Saddam and said it could not start preparing his defence unless Saddam enjoyed full access to his counsel.
A defence team member, Isam al-Ghazzawi, told Aljazeera.net that the team's representative in Baghdad had asked for permission for Clark and other lawyers to meet their client.
"The request has always been put on hold, but last Thursday the president himself asked to meet Clark and other lawyers, but the only answer we have been getting is: 'If God is willing'," al-Ghazzawi said.
Iraqi Leader Vows to Block Purges on Hussein TribunalBAGHDAD, Iraq, July 28 - The president of Iraq said Thursday that he would personally ensure the preservation of the Iraqi tribunal preparing the trials of Saddam Hussein and his aides.
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On Tuesday, a senior official on the commission created to purge former Baath officials said it intended to rid the tribunal of 19 former Baathists.
That statement ignited concern among American officials and senior members of the Iraqi government that the cases against Mr. Hussein might be impaired, and apparently prompted Mr. Talabani's remarks in defense of the tribunal.
Saddam Hussein's request for trial in Sweden turned down[...]
An official from the justice ministry said that Sweden has turned down a request by one of Hussein's lawyers for him to come here, and for the time being, Swedish authorities were unlikely to change their minds.
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Giovanni di Stefano has said that Iraq's insurgency has made Baghdad far too dangerous a venue for the former leader's trial, and that the proceeding should be moved to another country.
"Baghdad couldn't even prevent the recent kidnapping and killing of the Egyptian ambassador. There are also many Iraqis whowant to see Saddam executed and many others who want to see him freed. That means the defense and prosecution would both be in danger there," di Stefano said.
He said Saddam's defense team has contacted the Swedish government about the possibility of holding such a trial in Sweden.
Defence teams says Saddam attacked; U.S. denies it[Sat Jul 30, 2005]
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A statement issued by Saddam's legal team, which has an office in Amman, Jordan, said the former president was attacked and exchanged blows with another person during a hearing attended by his main lawyer, Khalil Dulaimi, on Thursday.
"As the president (Saddam) stood to leave the courtroom one of those present attacked him and there was an exchange of blows between the man and the president," the statement said, adding that the head of the tribunal did nothing to stop the assault.
It did not say if Saddam was hurt.
However, a spokeswoman for detainee operations in Iraq, the U.S. military unit charged with overseeing the custody of prisoners including Saddam, said no such incident took place.
"Nothing like that happened with Saddam whatsoever," Lieutenant Kristy Miller said.
More Saddam information.Saddam’s defense team has complained that he has had no access to international lawyers and says Saddam is sometimes called to hearings at a moment’s notice, in violation of rules.
The tribunal denies Saddam has been denied any rights.
Ramsey Clark, a former U.S. attorney general and one of the lawyers signed up to represent Saddam, said in a statement that Saddam’s rights were being violated.
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