Saddam Hussein

lawyer for Saddam Hussein says he will request a three-month adjournment of the trial against the ousted Iraqi leader when it opens Wednesday.

Khalil al-Dulaimi said he also plans to challenge the legitimacy of the special court hearing the case against Saddam and seven former regime members. They are accused of ordering the killing of more than 140 Iraqis after a failed attempt on Saddam's life in 1982. If convicted, they could receive the death penalty.

Mr. al-Dulaimi said he met the former Iraqi leader this week, and said he is calm and confident of his innocence. Meanwhile, Iran says it has filed its own charges against Saddam, including genocide during the Iran-Iraq war. Human rights groups have expressed concerns over the fairness of the Iraqi court trying Saddam and other regime members.