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"We have no access to Saddam nor the other Iraqi leaders who are in captivity
and awaiting trial. We do not even know where they are, or even which country
they are in. Nor do we know when or where the trial might be," said M Matthew
Fautin, a lawyer from Rheims.
"We have been trying so far without success to put pressure on relevant
officials so that we can see our clients and be briefed by them."
"This is hardly a good example of Western justice. It is scandalous that
their lawyers cannot talk to them," Mr. Dalyell, MP for Linlithgow said.
Earlier, one of Saddam’s lawyers condemned plans to try the former Iraqi
President in a U.S.-funded special court, saying it is illegitimate.
Ziad Al Khasawneh, who heads a committee set up to provide Saddam’s legal
defence, said that the special court doesn’t meet the requirements for
a fair and safe trial.
In July 2004 Saddam and 11 of his associates appeared before the Iraqi Special
Tribunal to face preliminary charges for their activities during the toppled
regime.
According to Iraqi officials, the trial of Saddam Hussein and some of his associates
will start this Spring.
Last month, The Sun newspaper reported that Saddam will attend his trial in
Baghdad confined in a small steel cage.
It said that the former Iraqi president will be sitting in a cage similar to
the Iron Maiden which was used to transport the fictional character Hannibal
Lector in the movie, Silence of The Lambs.
"Saddam will be housed in an underground cell and will travel to and from
the courtroom cage using an elevator".
"While he's in his cell he will be under 24-hour surveillance by security
staff who will watch him from behind a ... glass shield."
