Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein's family said here Tuesday that they have dismissed Jordan's top lawyer Mohammed al-Rashdan who headed the defence team.

"We have decided to discharge you (Rashdan) since we can not continue to work together," said a statement signed by Saddam's wife and three daughters.

Other members of Saddam's Amman-based defence team confirmed Rashdan's dismissal, accusing him of acting alone and seeking to bethe sole lawyer for the former Iraqi ruler.

Meanwhile, Rashdan told Xinhua that he was dismissed by Saddam'sfamily, saying that the reason was not what they said.

He declined to go into details, but said that he would deliver astatement concerning the matter.

Rashdan was appointed by Saddam's wife Sajida as top lawyer to defend Saddam on Jan. 11, 2004

Saddam's defense team comprises 20 leading lawyers from different countries, including Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, France, Britain and the United States.

Another 1,500 volunteer lawyers, most of them from Arab countries are assisting them.

Saddam was brought before an Iraqi court on July 1 for an initial hearing on seven charges, including war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

Source: Xinhua