"I am Saddam Hussein al-Majid, president of the Republic of Iraq," the jailed dictator said haughtily today as he greeted the head of an Iraqi tribunal, who talked him through his upcoming hearing.

The process started at 5am (1100 AEST) said the assistant, adding that he went into Chalabi's office to gather some papers and then the head of the tribunal along with a group of other people got into a convoy of cars that went to see Saddam and his lieutenants at a location that he refused to disclose.

All the other 11 detainees were in prisoner uniforms but of different colours and came into the room separately one after the other, added the assistant.

"The whole encounter with Saddam and his lieutenants lasted 15 minutes," said Chalabi's assistant.

http://theage.com.au/articles/2004/07/01/1088488055165.html