AMMAN, May 10: Saddam Hussein's defence lawyers said on Monday they had received no response from the US administration in Iraq and the International Committee of the Red Cross to repeated requests to see their client.

Lawyers representing the ousted leader also said they were ready to represent Iraqi prisoners abused by US and British soldiers, whose pictures angered people around the world.

"We are willing to take legal action against the US administration and the Red Cross if they don't allow us to see President Saddam," said Jordanian lawyer Mohammad Rashdan, one of a 20-strong legal team appointed by Saddam's wife to represent him.

Mr Rashdan said in Amman his team had received no response so far to requests to visit Saddam. The US-appointed Governing Council is setting up a war crimes tribunal and has already chosen judges to try Saddam, who was captured in December, on charges that may include genocide and crimes against humanity.

Washington has said 66-year-old Saddam, whose interrogation was being led by the Central Intelligence Agency, should be tried in Iraq. Rashdan said no war crimes tribunal had the right to try the former Iraqi president because the US-led invasion that toppled him was itself illegal. -Reuters