- A French lawyer who is representing Saddam Hussein claims
the former Iraqi leader's family has received no information about his
health in detention.
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- Jacques Verges, whose defence of the deposed dictator
was reported by The Scotsman at the weekend, said he believes the United
States has violated the Geneva Conventions on several counts - including
by keeping Saddam's family in the dark about his health. He is being held
by United States forces at an undisclosed location. "His family hasn't
received any news about his physical or mental health," Mr Verges
told Associated Press Television News.
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- Known for taking on controversial clients including terrorists
and a Nazi leader, Mr Verges said he received a letter from Saddam's family
requesting that he defend the former leader. He has agreed to do so.
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- American officials have not yet commented on the lawyer's
announcement.
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- Referring to the televised footage of Saddam's medical
examination after his capture in December, Mr Verges said: "It's against
the Geneva Conventions to interrogate a man, examine and exhibit him like
an animal at a fair, with a doctor acting more like a veterinarian - looking
at his teeth, his hair, his tongue."
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- The International Committee of the Red Cross visited
the former Iraqi dictator in jail for the first time in February. The committee
does not release details of such visits or of the prisoner's confinement.
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- However, Saddam did write a letter to his family that
was to be delivered once the United States confirmed it did not contain
any hidden messages to his followers. The lawyer did not address that letter.
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- Mr Verges also said he hoped to take Saddam's case to
the International Criminal Court at The Hague in the Netherlands.
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- Though the United States has not ratified the 1998 treaty
establishing the court, Verges said he still believed other nations that
took part in the US-led war, including Britain and Spain, could be held
responsible there.
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- ©2004 Scotsman.com http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=360342004
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