- Saddam Hussein has suffered a minor stroke and could
die before his trial, his defence lawyers claim.
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- The multinational legal team is still awaiting permission
to visit the deposed Iraqi ruler.
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- A letter demanding their doctor be given access to the
former dictator was yesterday sent by Jordanian lawyer Mohammed al-Rashdan
to Salem Chalebi, the head of the Iraqi prosecuting authorities.
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- Mr al-Rashdan said: "Our information is that he's
in very poor health. We understand from the International Committee of
the Red Cross that our client has had a brain scan to discover how badly
he has been affected by the stroke. We believe he could die because of
his health problems.
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- "We also think an attempt may be made on his life.
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- "We're very worried that we won't have a client
to defend." He added: "Under the Geneva Convention we're entitled
to have access to our client. But all our requests have been ignored."
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- In a form letter delivered by the Red Cross in January
to his wife Sajida, living in Qatar, Saddam put a cross in boxes for "good
health" and "slightly wounded".
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- "His finger appears to have been wounded, possibly
by gunshot, when he was captured," said Mr Rashdan. "But we believe
his health has deteriorated.
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- "We believe any trial could be months, if not years
away - I think Bush and Blair would be happier if he died from ill health."
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- http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/allnews/tm_objectid=14467737&method=full&s
iteid=50143&headline=saddam-s--stroke--name_page.html
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