[JURIST] Lawyers for Tariq Aziz [JURIST news archive; BBC profile], the former Iraqi deputy prime minister under the Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive] regime, have asked Italy and Croatia to grant him asylum if Aziz is released from US detention. Aziz's lawyers argue the 69-year-old is in very poor health [JURIST report] and have asked several countries to accept him for medical treatment if he is released. Italian officials have said they are evaluating the request but Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader [BBC profile] said his nation will "in no way" grant asylum to Aziz. Lawyers for Aziz, who has been held since the overthrow of the former regime in 2003, have previously petitioned for his release [JURIST report]. AP has more.