Saddam 'hasn't eaten for two weeks'
Doctors in Baghdad are advising Saddam Hussein that refusing food could be bad for his health because the ousted president has not eaten in nearly two weeks, a US military spokesman said today.
Saddam and three others have refused meals since dinner on July 7 although they drink coffee and water with nutrients, Lt Col Keir-Kevin Curry, a spokesman for detainee operations said.
“They are examined daily by health professionals who advise them of the dangers of not eating,” Mr Curry said.
He said the 69-year-old ex-president and the others were in good health despite nearly two weeks without food.
The other three refusing food have not been identified but are believed to be co-defendants in the ongoing trial in the deaths of Shiite Muslims following an assassination attempt against Saddam in the town of Dujail in 1982.
Saddam and seven others are on trial in Iraq for crimes against humanity in the deaths of Shiite Muslims following an assassination attempt against the Iraqi leader in the town of Dujail in 1982.
His chief attorney, Khalil al-Dulaimi, said Saddam had gone on a hunger strike to demand better security for his lawyers after defence lawyer Khamis al-Obeidi was assassinated last month.
He was the third defence lawyer to be killed since the trial began. The next session is set for Monday.
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