Iraq judge says Saddam’s morale fading as trial nears News
Iraq judge says Saddam’s morale fading as trial nears

[JURIST] Saddam Hussein's morale has dropped due to the the magnitude of the charges against him and the fact that his trial will be before an impartial court, according to Judge Raid Juhi [NYT report] of the Iraqi Special Tribunal [official website, English version], speaking in an interview published Saturday in the London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat [newspaper website in Arabic]. Juhi said that Saddam and other detained former regime leaders are facing punishments ranging from life in jail to the death penalty. Saddam lawyer Khalil al-Duleimi disagreed with Juhi's comments, saying Saddam was in "high spirits" at their last meeting in April. No official date has been set for the trial but, echoing recent comments by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani [JURIST report] Juhi said he expected Saddam to go before the Tribunal in the next two months. AP has more.