AMMAN, Nov 25: Saddam Hussein's defence lawyers on Thursday charged that leaked medical reports about the ill health of the Iraqi dictator were proof that US forces and Iraq's interim government may try to "get rid" of the prisoner.

"(We consider) the medical leaks attributed to the interim government about president Saddam Hussein's deteriorating health very serious," the spokesman for the Jordan-based team, Ziad Khassawneh, told a news conference.

"Such leaks are probably aimed at preparing Arab and international public opinion to accept any scenario by the Iraqi government and the US forces for getting rid of Saddam," he said. According to information from the International Committee of the Red Cross, Saddam is "in good health and not suffering from any serious illness", he said.

Saddam, who was captured by US forces last December and faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity, was recently visited by the ICRC, although officials refused to divulge information about his health. He is held in US custody in a secret location in Iraq. -AFP