Saddam's Family Dismisses Defense Lawyer

Saddam Hussein's family dismissed a prominent Jordanian lawyer who led the ousted Iraqi dictator's defense team, accusing him of seeking "personal gain and fame" in the high-profile case, other legal team members said Tuesday. Saddam's family told Mohammed al-Rashdan in late September he was being relieved of his duties, "but he did not accept the wish" until Tuesday, said Ziad al-Khasawneh, spokesman for the lawyers appointed by Saddam's wife, Sajida. Al-Khasawneh told The Associated Press that al-Rashdan, appointed in January, handed over all relevant documents to Saddam's Jordan-based defense team Tuesday. The team consists of 20 lead lawyers and another 1,500 volunteers. [more]