Lawyers' fears for Saddam health
By Jon Leyne
BBC, Amman
Unconfirmed reports said Saddam Hussein had a minor stroke
Lawyers for Saddam Hussein have asked for access to him following concerns about the former Iraqi leader's health.
Saddam Hussein's legal team wants to send an independent doctor to check on his health after reports he suffered a minor stroke while in prison.
Those reports have been denied by the US military holding him in Iraq.
Lawyer Mohammed Rashdan said the uncertainty showed the need for the defence lawyers to be allowed to send their own doctor into the prison.
The International Committee of the Red Cross have visited Saddam Hussein in prison at least twice, but so far his legal team has not been given any access to him - they have not even been allowed into Iraq.
With a trial still many months away, Mr Rashdan - Saddam Hussein's chief lawyer - made it clear the lawyers plan to challenge the legality of the whole process as well as denying all the allegations against their client.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3938429.stm
By Jon Leyne
BBC, Amman
Unconfirmed reports said Saddam Hussein had a minor stroke
Lawyers for Saddam Hussein have asked for access to him following concerns about the former Iraqi leader's health.
Saddam Hussein's legal team wants to send an independent doctor to check on his health after reports he suffered a minor stroke while in prison.
Those reports have been denied by the US military holding him in Iraq.
Lawyer Mohammed Rashdan said the uncertainty showed the need for the defence lawyers to be allowed to send their own doctor into the prison.
The International Committee of the Red Cross have visited Saddam Hussein in prison at least twice, but so far his legal team has not been given any access to him - they have not even been allowed into Iraq.
With a trial still many months away, Mr Rashdan - Saddam Hussein's chief lawyer - made it clear the lawyers plan to challenge the legality of the whole process as well as denying all the allegations against their client.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3938429.stm
