Hunger-striking Saddam taken to hospital

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was taken to hospital today on the 17th day of a hunger strike, the chief prosecutor in his trial said.

Jaafar al-Moussawi said he visited the prison where Saddam and the seven other co-defendants are held and was told that the ex-president’s health “is unstable because of the hunger strike”.

“We took him to hospital and he is being currently fed by a tube,” al-Moussawi said. He refused to identify the hospital.

Asked if Saddam’s health had improved, al-Moussawi replied: “No, it is not stable yet.”