December 12, 2004

The official Spokesman of the President Saddam Hussein Defence committee: expresses the committee’s deep concern regarding the news about the hunger strike declared by the Iraqi leaders arrested by the occupation authorities .

The Spokesman reaffirms deep concerns regarding possible scenarios aiming to get rid of Iraqi Leadership since the hunger strike may be exploited as a pretext to justify the deterioration of the President’s health.

The spokesperson urges all international humanitarian organizations especially the International Committee of the Red Cross to assume there legal and moral responsibilities.

The international committee is demanded also to pressure the American occupying authorities, and the interim government of Iraq, to enable the committee to meet President Saddam and his comrades who under American detention ,in order to get first hand information regarding the conditions of their detention including their health.

The spokesman reaffirms the just and legitimate demands of the Defence Committee that the American occupying power has to comely to provisions of Geneva Conventions by ensuring all necessary needs including nutrition and health needs for P.O.W.S.

P.O.W.S also are entitled to be visited by their families and to send and receive letters .

The Defence committee demands again to appoint a joint medical team to evaluate the health conditions of the captured Iraqi leadership.

According to Iraqi sources, the Hunger strike has began before three days .

It is a protest against oppressive treatment – especially through psychological pressures to compel them to testify against President Saddam in case there is a second hearing of the special tribunal, which has been established by the occupation.

Members of the Iraqi leadership refused American threats and declared a hunger strike .

Spokesman

Ziyad Khasawneh