BAGHDAD, Oct 20: A defence lawyer involved in the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven others has been kidnapped by gunmen, said police and Interior Ministry sources on Thursday.

Police said initial reports identified the abducted lawyer as Saadoun Dulaimi. A legal source confirmed the kidnapped man was involved in the trial which started on Wednesday.

Saddam was represented by two lawyers in the court, lead attorney Khalil Dulaimi and Khamees al-Ubaidi.—Reuters