Saddam's lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi told the Jordanian Al Arab Al Yawm newspaper that Saddam's brother, Barzan al-Takriti, made the allegations on Thursday, in a closed session of the Iraqi court trying Saddam and seven co-defendants. Barzan is among those being tried.

Barzan said: "The Americans offered me a political position in return for testimony against the president (Saddam). I refused and told them it would be impossible to testify against the president.

"Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti would never betray his eldest brother Saddam Hussein not only because he is his brother but because he is also the president". Dulaimi claims Barzan was "tortured" when he refused to co-operate with the US.

"Barzan said that the Americans tortured him and put a lot of pressure on him because they wanted him to give them details on $36bn which they said were in Saddam's possession."

Saddam has also charged he was tortured while in US detention. The allegations have been dismissed as "bogus" by the US.

Saddam, Barzan and six other co-defendants are on trial for the murder of 148 Shi'ite villagers. They have pleaded not guilty, facing the death penalty if convicted.

The trial is set to resume on January 24.

Saddam Hussein sits between his half-brothers Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti (R) Watban Ibrahim Hassan al-Tikriti (L) in Baghdad in this December 27, 1999 photo.

Saddam claims beaten by Americans
-Wednesday, December 21, 2005

Saddam Hussein accused his American captors of torturing him, claiming at his trial today that he had been beaten “everywhere on my body.” A Shiite witness testified that the former Iraqi leader’s agents had tortured people by ripping off their skin. The trial’s chief prosecutor said that if American-led multi-national forces had abused Saddam, he would be transferred into the custody of Iraqi troops. The prosecutor, Jaafar al-Mousawi, said he would investigate. “I want to say here, yes, we have been beaten by the Americans and we have been tortured,” Saddam responded, before gesturing towards his seven co-defendants, “one by one.” Launching into an extended outburst after sitting quietly through several hours of testimony, Saddam said he’d.......    More