Saddam's Lawyers to sue British tabloid 'The Sun'

Saddam Hussein's lawyers plan to sue the British tabloid over photos that were published of the former Iraqi leader from his prison cell in intimate poses, wearing just his underwear and washing his own clothes. The photographs got a mixed reaction in Iraq where the majority of the population felt it was humiliating that such photographs had been published. Many Iraqis said it was clear message to the leaders of the Middle East from the US. Others were happy to see the once national tyrant in a powerless position. Al-Jazeera television quoted Hussein's lawyer Ziad Khassawneh as saying that the photos had been a violation of human rights and were in contravention of the Geneva Convention. Khassawneh said that his team would "pursue all the necessary legal steps to see to it that those who commit such base acts against any prisoner, and especially against president Saddam, are punished. Analysis of the photos shows that they were taken inside the place where (Saddam) is being detained, he said, adding that their publication in The Sun "adds to a series of violations of the Iraqi people's rights committed by the American administration." The photos of Saddam wearing just his underpants and bear chest were published with the title "Tyrant's in his pants" and was run on the front page of The Sun newspaper. The photo story has sparked controversy over why they were leaked. The Sun said that the US military handed over the photos in order to deal a blow to the insurgency and make them see that the man who was once their leader is now just an ordinary man with no power over them what so ever. Al-Jazeera itself had decided not to publish the photos for personal and professional reasons.Â