Saddam journal reveals prison AIDS fear

0 Comments | AFP, May, 2008

DUBAI (AFP) — Saddam Hussein, the ousted Iraqi dictator hanged in 2006 for crimes against humanity, feared he would pick up sexual diseases while he was in US custody, according to extracts from prison writings published in an Arab newspaper.

Saddam said he asked his prison guards not to put their washing on the same clothes line as his, fearing he could contract "young people's diseases," the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper reported, citing his journal.

"My main concern was to avoid contracting a sexual disease in a place like this, and AIDS," he said.

"What can the Americans and other invaders... bring to an (invaded) country apart from dangerous diseases?" Al-Hayat said quoting Saddam, without specifying how it obtained the documents.

Some of the...