Jordanian lawyers offer to defend Saddam Hussein

AMMAN, Jordan -- More than 600 Jordanian lawyers have volunteered to defend former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein, the president of the Jordanian Bar Association said Tuesday. The Arab Lawyer's Union, which comprises members from across the Arab world, is setting up an international team for Saddam's defense, Hussein Mejali told The Associated Press. Mejali said last week he believed Saddam was unlawfully deposed by coalition forces and unlawfully captured by U.S. troops.

He maintains Saddam is Iraq's legitimate president because the U.S.-led occupation has no legality.

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.

Jordanian professional organizations, including the bar association, have long supported Saddam, including during Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

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

No decision has been made on how or when Saddam will be tried or what charges he will face.