Nueimi receives death threats for defending Saddam Hussein

Najib al-Nueimi, Qatar's former minister of justice and one of the defense lawyers of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, said that he has been harassed and threatened to be killed by some workers at Baghdad airport upon his arrival to take part in the trial session which will be resumed today.

He explained in a statement to al-Jazeera satellite TV that he was surprised upon leaving the airport that a group of Iraqi workers threatened him because he volunteered to defend Hussein. He indicated that the American protection team and some members of the Iraqi police interfered to prevent the workers from approaching him.

He stressed he will ask the court to ensure better protection for the defense lawyers team. Replying to a question on whether Saddam will be attending today's session, al-Nueimi said that Saddam will attend this session.

The Iraqi court is due to continue considering the so-called al-Dajil case over which the toppled Iraqi President and seven of his aides are being tried.

Saddam had boycotted December 7th session in protest for the conditions of his detention. He, had attended the earlier four sessions since the case has started on October 19.