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600 Lawyers Volunteer to Defend Saddam
Professional courtesy, of course. AMMAN, Jordan (AP) - More than 600 Jordanian lawyers have volunteered to defend former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, the president of the Jordanian Bar Association said Tuesday. Ramsey Clark, take a number! The Arab Lawyerâs Union, which comprises members from across the Arab world, is setting up an international team for Saddamâs defense, Hussein Mejali told The Associated Press. "I expect more volunteers and thousands of Arab and international lawyers to register their names to be part of the defense team," he said. "We are all willing to spare no efforts to help the Iraqi president." Wait til they find out that Saddam canât afford more than about 100 lawyers. Officials at the Arab Lawyerâs Union, based in Cairo, Egypt, could not be reached for comment. The vaunted Arab Lawyerâs Union, official motto, "Yes, effendi"! Mejali said last week he believed Saddam was unlawfully deposed by coalition forces and unlawfully captured by U.S. troops. He maintains Saddam is Iraqâs legitimate president because the U.S.-led occupation has no legality. But heâs a lawyer, heâs supposed to say that. On Monday, Jordanian lawyer Saleh Armouti said he and French attorney Emmanuel Ludot are trying to obtain American permission to visit Saddam to ask to defend him. Iâm sure they can just sash-shay up to Mr. Bremer and ask. Jordanian Iraqi Governing Council members have said Saddam will be tried in a special war crimes tribunal established with provisions taken from the International Criminal Court. The tribunal was signed into law on Dec. 10, just three days before U.S. troops captured Saddam near his hometown of Tikrit Thatâs what an experienced trial lawyers calls "a coincidence." No decision has been made on how or when Saddam will be tried or what charges he will face. "Our lawyers will get back to your lawyers." Posted by: Steve White 2003-12-24 |
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