The special tribunal issued a statement on Tuesday confirming that the defence team had been sacked.
“Saddam confirmed that he has dismissed all lawyers and cancelled their authorisations… and that the only authorised lawyer is Khalil Dulaimi,” it said.
Saddam Hussein’s family lawyer, Abdel Haq Alani, explained that they were upset over media reports in which several Arab and Western lawyers claimed to speak on his behalf.
He added that the family would appoint a new legal team.
The only formal charge that has been filed against him is related to a mass killing of Shia Muslims in the village of Dujail north-east of Baghdad after a failed murder attempt against him in 1982.
