AMMAN, Aug 8: The family of ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein said on Monday it had sacked all members of his foreign defence team and would deal only with his Iraqi lawyer.

“From today, none of the lawyers, except Iraqi lawyer Khalil Dualaimi will have the right to act on behalf of Saddam,” according to a statement from the family signed by Saddam’s daughter Raghad.

“They used their position to further interests not linked to the case,” the statement said.

Saddam, who was ousted in April 2003 after the US-led invasion of Iraq and captured the following December, is in US custody near Baghdad awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity. No trial date has yet been set.—AFP