[JURIST] Khalil Dulaimi [JURIST news archive], chief defense lawyer for ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive], told Reuters Sunday he met with his client for seven hours and discussed a possible end to the defense boycott of the trial. Earlier this month, Hussein's lawyers claimed they were being denied access [JURIST report] to their client and had been refused visits since late January.

The development comes after Hussein, four co-defendants and defense lawyers boycotted trial proceedings [JURIST report] before the Iraqi High Criminal Court – formerly the Iraqi Special Tribunal [official website] – in protests against new chief judge Ra'uf Rasheed Abdel-Rahman [BBC profile, JURIST report], who was named chief judge after Rizgar Mohammed Amin resigned [JURIST report]. Defense lawyers have filed a formal motion [JURIST report] seeking the disqualification of Abdel-Rahman and Dulaimi added that "the Chief Judge has personally given promises to meet our demands in the event of attending the Tuesday session." The trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday. Reuters has more.