Saddam Hussein's family have chosen a new international legal counsel to defend him against war crimes charges during a trial they say denies him fair justice, the family's lawyer said on Saturday.
"We have formed a legal defence team that includes prominent American, European, Asian and Arab lawyers who were chosen on the basis of competence and merit to put up a strong defence," said Abdel Haq Alani, legal adviser to Saddam's eldest daughter Raghd, who is authorised to act on behalf of the family.
An Iraqi government source said on Friday Saddam and several aides would go on trial on October 19 on charges of killing dozens of Shi'ite villagers at Dujail in 1982. The source, who is not attached to the Special Tribunal trying the deposed president and his aides for crimes against humanity, forecast a quick trial and execution.