Saddam 'in high spirits' on eve of trial

Deposed Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is in high spirits and “very optimistic” on the eve of the start of his trial for allegedly ordering the massacre of Shiite Muslims, his defence lawyer said today.

After a meeting today with the ousted dictator, the lawyer said he would ask the court for an adjournment of at least three months.

“I have just left him five minutes ago. His morale is very, very, very high and he is very optimistic and confident of his innocence, although the court is … unjust,” Khalil al-Duleimi said.

He met with Saddam for 90 minutes at a location that al-Duleimi said was not his usual place of detention.

He would not specify where the meeting took place.

Saddam’s location has been kept secret since his capture by American troops in December 2003, but it is believed that he has been held at a US facility at Baghdad International Airport.

Al-Duleimi said that at tomorrow’s opening session, he would ask for the adjournment to give him time to better prepare Saddam’s defence and arrange for Arab and Western lawyers to join him in the defence team.