Saddam and his seven aides decided to start a hunger strike from Monday in protest against illegitimate procedures.

    BAGHDAD, Feb. 12 (Xinhuanet) - A lawyer of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein said Sunday that Saddam and the seven co-defendants would start a hunger strike on Monday.

    Saddam and his seven aides decided to start a hunger strike from Monday in protest against illegitimate procedures and bad treatment by the court, said the leading member of Saddam's defense team.

    Meanwhile, reports reaching here from the Jordanian capital Amman also said that the eight will refuse food from Monday in protest against "being forced to attend the trial while being prisoners of war and also over the illegitimacy of the court".

    Saddam's chief lawyer, Khalil Dulaimi was quoted as saying sources inside the prison had leaked the information on the strike. The next hearing is due on Monday. Enditem