[JURIST] Khalil al-Duleimi, an Iraqi lawyer representing ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive] has gone into hiding after receiving death threats over the last three weeks, Saddam's chief defense attorney Ziad al-Khasawneh announced on Monday. Al-Duleimi, one of 25 attorneys representing Saddam, reportedly told other lawyers on the team about the threats which followed his Dec. 16 meeting [JURIST report] with the ousted Iraqi leader. He claimed that "suicide cells had been formed specifically to liquidate him so that he would set an example to all other attorneys who have volunteered to defend President Saddam," al-Khasawneh said. The December 16 meeting was the first time Saddam met with a member of his Jordan-based defense team. Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawer has stated that Saddam's trial could begin shortly after the Iraqi elections this week. AP has more.