Saddam's meeting with defence lawyer cancelled

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.

Ziad al-Khasawneh said in an interview that the Iraqi Bar Association obtained court permission last week for defence team member Khalil al-Duleimi, an Iraqi, to meet with Saddam today.