Saddam and co-defendants on hunger strike

Saddam Hussein and his seven co-defendants went on an indefinite hunger strike today to protest at the killing of an Iraqi attorney who sits on the defence team.

The news of the hunger strike came from the chief lawyer of the ousted Iraqi leader said.

Khalil al-Dulaimi said: “President Saddam and other members of his leadership went on a hunger strike today to protest at the killing of Khamis al-Obeidi.

“They pledged not to end the strike until international protection is provided to the defence team,” said al-Dulaimi, who is on a visit to Jordan.

He said he received “the information directly from inside the green zone”.

He declined to elaborate.