BAGHDAD, Nov 27: Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein could reap one benefit of his own downfall by voting in free polls set for January, but he will be barred from standing for re-election, an official said on Saturday.

"Theoretically, prisoners have the right to vote," said Abdel Hussein al Hindawi, president of the electoral commission charged with organizing Iraq's first multi-party elections in half a century.

Saddam Hussein has the right to vote if "his name is on the electoral list", said Mr Hindawi.

The electoral list is based on records of who had ration cards used under the UN oil-for-food programme.

It is not known whether Saddam had a ration card.-AFP