[JURIST] Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive] reportedly admitted to ordering deadly attacks on Kurds in north Iraq, but he argued the attacks were legal because they were made in retribution, an Iraqi Special Tribunal [official website] official said Wednesday. The report appears to challenge the credibility of a sweeping claim made Tuesday by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani in a TV intreview that Saddam had confessed [JURIST report] to "crimes." According to the tribunal official, Saddam made the remarks last month while being questioned in preparation for his trial, which will begin Oct. 19. Hussein reportedly argued that he ordered attacks on Kurds [Wikipedia report] in 1987 because they were aiding Iran in its war with Iraq. Retribution was legal under the former Iraqi regime. AP has more.