Lankan lawyers willing to defend Saddam
At least 20 Sri Lankan lawyers have come forward to offer their services in defending former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein when he is brought to trial on allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes, a spokesman for the group said.

Criminal lawyer N. Srikantha, who is also the leader of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation, said that initially they would campaign for the former Iraqi leader to be tried before an international war crimes tribunal instead of the apparent US push to try him in an Iraqi court where the death penalty is imposed.

Mr. Srikantha said at least 20 lawyers had agreed to support this move and they would meet this week with the possibility of many more lawyers joining later.
"Today it is Saddam Hussein. Tomorrow it may be some other world leader and we cannot remain silent when injustices or double standards are foisted on the world," Mr. Srikantha said.

He said hundreds of lawyers in Jordan where Saddam Hussein's daughters have obtained asylum were also coming forward to defend the former Iraqi President. Mr. Srikantha said he was stunned by US President George W. Bush's remarks that Mr. Hussein should be hanged as such comments amounted to a condemnation and judgment even before a trial began. He said the Lankan lawyers for Saddam Hussein would be in touch with the United Nations and other world authorities.

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