Saddam Hussein has gone on a hunger strike to protest the killing of one of his main lawyers, the US military said yesterday. Defence counsel said they were considering boycotting the trial.

A US military spokesman for detainee operations said Saddam began the strike after eating his breakfast yesterday morning in a US-run prison.

He said former Saddam aides being held in the same prison had refused to eat three meals a day since Wednesday evening.

"Saddam Hussein refused his midday meal today," he told Reuters. "Despite their refusal to eat their meals, they are in good health and receiving appropriate medical care."

It was not the first time Saddam, 69, has gone on a hunger strike since his trial for crimes against humanity for his role in the killing of 148 Shi'ites in Dujail began in October.

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