NEW IRAQ: SADDAM

The Australian: It's illegal: top defence lawyer

THE group of Arab and foreign lawyers engaged to defend Saddam Hussein has ignited a furious debate over the legality of the special Iraqi tribunal, and claims the process will inevitably lead to the former dictator's conviction and execution.

Even before Saddam and 11 former Iraqi officials appeared in court last night to face war crimes charges, Mohammad Rashdan, lead lawyer in the 20-strong defence team, condemned the tribunal as "illegal and unjust".

The Jordanian lawyer's team, which includes US academic Curtis Doebbler, French barrister Emmanuel Ludot, Swiss lawyer Marc Henzelin, and leading British lawyer Giovanni Di Stefano, has been hired by Sajida Khairallah, Saddam's first wife, and their three daughters, to defend the former president