'Saddam attacked in court'

Members of Saddam Hussein's Jordan-based defence team claimed that the former Iraqi president was attacked during a court appearance last week, a claim immediately disputed by the chief investigating judge of the tribunal.

A man burst out from those gathered in the court room and tried to hit Saddam as the ousted leader was leaving the courtroom at the end of a 45-minute hearing on Thursday, Saddam's legal team said in a statement.

"There was an exchange of blows between the man and the president," the statement said, also claiming that the judge overseeing the hearing did nothing to stop the assault.

© Copyright Press Association Ltd 2005, All Rights Reserved.
From The Scotsman