[JURIST] A female Saudi lawyer, Reem al-Habib, received preliminary approval on Wednesday to join the team of lawyers defending Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive]. Habib, who graduated from Harvard Law School and works in western Saudi Arabia as a corporate lawyer, cites personal reasons for joining Hussein's defense team that do not reflect the views of the Saudi government. Al-Habib awaits formal approval from the Iraqi Bar Association before she can begin working for Saddam's defense team. Raghad Hussein [Wikipedia profile], Saddam's oldest daughter who lives in Jordan and is responsible for assembling her father's defense team, praised the addition of al-Habib, and confirmed that she would play a central role in Saddam's defense. Al-Habib will be the second woman on Hussein's defense team, joining Lebanese attorney Bushra al-Khalil.

The Iraqi High Criminal Court [JURIST news archive] is in the process of trying Hussein and seven former aides on crimes against humanity charges for the killing of 148 Shiites [JURIST report] in Dujail in 1982. The trial is currently adjourned until April 5 [JURIST report]. AFP has more.