Saddam Hussein, the former president of Iraq, has been taken to hospital due to the effects of his 16-day hunger strike.

Jaafar al-Musawi, the chief prosecutor, said that Saddam would not be able attend his trial for crimes against humanity on Monday.

"Saddam Hussein has just been admitted to hospital because of his hunger strike. A medical report has established that he cannot appear tomorrow, because his condition needs medical attention," al-Musawi said.

Saddam's chief defence lawyer accused US military authorities of force-feeding the toppled leader to make him end his strike.

"The US military are force-feeding the president to break his will and end his hunger strike to protest against the trial and its illegality," Khalil Dulaimi told Reuters.

But a US military spokesman said that Saddam was being fed voluntarily through a feeding tube and his condition was not considered to be life-threatening.

Saddam is due to appear before judges at the latest hearing in his prosecution for the alleged massacre of 148 members of Iraq's Shia community in 1982 following an attempt on his life.
He and his co-defendants have reportedly been refusing food since July 7.

Trial boycott

In another development, Saddam's defence lawyers have said that they will boycott the trial due to resume on Monday in protest at the court's refusal to meet their demands for a fair trial,

Khalil al-Dulaimi, the chief defence lawyer said on Sunday: "After all our legal demands that represent the minimum for a fair trial have been refused, the defence team decided to continue its complete suspension of its attendance of the trial sessions".
Saddam was also insisting on maintaining a hunger strike until the court met demands that include better protection for lawyers and other concessions over the trial's procedures after a third defence lawyer was killed in Baghdad, al-Dulaimi said.

PHOTO CAPTION

Saddam Hussein listens during his trial in Baghdad in June 2006. (AFP)