Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has ended his hunger strike for "health reasons", his chief lawyer has confirmed.
"The president maintained his hunger strike for 11 days but was forced to end it for health reasons," Mr Khalil Dulaimi, who met Saddam for seven hours in Baghdad on Sunday, said.
Saddam staged a hunger strike to protest against his court proceedings.
Mr Dulaimi said US prison officials intervened with defence lawyers to end Saddam's strike to "prevent any adverse health impact", adding that the former leader had lost some weight.
Mr Dulaimi said he found Saddam in "high morale" during the time he spent alone with him deliberating defence strategy after the defence team walked out of the trial in protest at court proceedings.
