The former dictator is being questioned by investigative judges before his trial resumes on November 28.

An Iraqi lawyer briefed by investigative judges in the Iraqi High Tribunal said Saddam had made the obscene remark when asked about attacks by Iraqi forces on the shrines of imams Hussein and Abbas in Karbala in 1991.

Two of the court's clerks stopped taking notes and attacked Saddam, pummeling him with blows. The 68-year-old fought back before the chief judge intervened to restore order.

The source claimed Saddam's American guards were amused by the incident and did not intervene.

However, the tribunal and the American military both denied that the incident took place.