Saddam team wants to 'try' Bush

2005-10-25 17:14

Amman - Saddam Hussein's defence committee wants to put US President George W Bush in the dock to mirror the Baghdad trial of the former Iraqi leader over a Shi'ite massacre, a Jordanian lawyer said on Tuesday.

"We shall contact international and Arab lawyer associations and will put forward the proof allowing for a trial of the criminal Bush at the same time as the fake trial takes place in Iraq," Saleh Armuti told a meeting of the Amman-based Saddam defence committee.

If lawyers abroad fail to take the case to court, "we shall organise it in Jordan and will invite international supporters", Armuti said, without specifying on what grounds he wanted to try Bush.

Saddam is currently being tried on charges of murder and torture related to the killing of 148 Shi'ites from the village of Dujail following a failed attempt on the Iraqi leader's life in July 1982.

Saddam's Iraqi lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi, who arrived in Amman on Tuesday to take part in talks on co-ordinating strategy for his next court hearing on November 28, did not attend the defence committee meeting.

"Khalil will meet members of the defence team later today," said Jordanian lawyer Ziyad Najdawi.

- AFP