Saddam Hussein has suffered a minor stroke and could die before his trial, his defence lawyers told a British newspaper.
The multinational legal team is still awaiting permission to visit the deposed Iraqi president, the Mirror said Wednesday.
A letter demanding their doctor be given access to the former president was sent by Jordanian lawyer Mohammed al-Rashdan to Salem Chalebi, the head of the Iraqi prosecuting authorities.
Al-Rashdan told the daily: "Our information is that he's in very poor health. We understand from the International Committee of the Red Cross that our client has had a brain scan to discover how badly he has been affected by the stroke. We believe he could die because of his health problems.
"We also think an attempt may be made on his life.
"We're very worried that we won't have a client to defend." He added: "Under the Geneva Convention we're entitled to have access to our client. But all our requests have been ignored."
In a form letter delivered by the Red Cross in January to his wife Sajida, now living in Qatar, Saddam put a cross in boxes for "good health" and "slightly wounded".
"His finger appears to have been wounded, possibly by gunshot, when he was captured," conveyed Rashdan. "But we believe his health has deteriorated.
"We believe any trial could be months, if not years away - I think Bush and Blair would be happier if he died from ill health." (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
