CAMPAIGNING for the first post-Saddam Hussein elections got under way in Iraq yesterday amid more bloodshed, as the ousted president met his family-appointed lawyers for the first time since his capture a year ago.

Saddam Hussein held talks with his defence lawyer today – the first meeting since his capture a year ago.

Saddam Hussein’s first meeting with a defence lawyer was abruptly cancelled today, apparently because of pressure exerted by US authorities on the special Iraqi tribunal trying him, the chief of the former dictator’s legal team said.

Members of Saddam Hussein’s ousted regime are considering suing the Bush administration in the World Court for alleged war crimes in Iraq, the chief of the fallen dictator’s legal team said today.

Saddam Hussein’s eldest daughter is insisting on personally endorsing the appointment of any lawyer defending her father in his forthcoming trial, a move apparently aimed at undercutting Iraqi efforts to recruit a defence team.

The daughter of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi will join Saddam Hussein’s defence team to help the deposed Iraqi dictator fight war crimes charges in court.

A Jordanian lawyer who claims to represent Saddam urged the US-led coalition to release the ousted dictator, and said that handing him over to the newly empowered interim Iraqi government would violate international law.