Man Hit Hussein, Lawyers Say

Members of Saddam Hussein’s Jordan-based defense team asserted Saturday that the ousted Iraqi president was attacked during a recent court appearance, a statement immediately disputed by the tribunal’s chief judge.

A man rushed from among those gathered in the courtroom Thursday and tried to hit Hussein as the former leader was leaving the courtroom after a 45-minute hearing, the defense team said in a statement.

“There was an exchange of blows between the man and the president,” it said, adding that the judge overseeing the hearing did nothing.

Raid Juhi, chief judge of the Iraqi Special Tribunal, denied Saturday that any such incident occurred. Juhi, however, did not attend the hearing, which was presided over by another judge.

The lawyers said the attacker’s identity was known, but their statement did not give his name or say whether the ousted leader was hurt.

Independent verification of any incident was not possible. Only certain portions of Thursday’s hearing were televised. Photos released did not show any injuries to Hussein’s face.