| The defense team of imprisoned former president Saddam Hussein yesterday denounced as "invalid" plans by Iraq's interim government to start next week trying members of the country's ousted regime. "The interrogation (of detainees) in the absence of their lawyers is invalid and the accusations made against them are also invalid according to legal rules," the spokesman for the Jordan-based team Ziad Khassawhen said. "We have written to international organizations and the concerned parties over the past year-and-a-half but have been unsuccessful so far in meeting president Saddam Hussein or any of his companions," he added. Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said that the "symbols" of Saddam's toppled regime would start going on trial as early as next week. "The trial will begin next week of the symbols of the former regime who will appear in succession to ensure that justice is done in Iraq," Allawi told the interim national assembly in Baghdad. Allawi made it clear that he was referring to Saddam and the 11 top members of his former ruling Baathist regime who are being held in US custody awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity. |