from The Age …..

‘The US military subjected Australian detainee David Hicks to mental torture by providing him with graphic material showing Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein with a noose around his neck, his lawyers have claimed from Guantanamo Bay.

They say the military also displayed a collage of pictures of Saddam, including some of his trial, accompanied by a threatening message pointing to the consequences of failing to co-operate with the US.

Hicks' lawyers, David McLeod and Michael Griffin, and US attorney Josh Dratel said Hicks and other detainees were also given articles about recent executions in Iraq, including that of Saddam Hussein's brother, Barzan Ibrahim al-Tekriti, who was decapitated when he was hanged on January 15, wearing the same flame-orange jumpsuit worn by Guantanamo detainees.

Mr Dratel and NSW lawyer Mr Griffin said Hicks was being detained by an oppressive and brutalising system.

US Commander Robert Durand, director of public affairs at Guantanamo Bay, today described the articles and photos available to the inmates as "neither graphic nor sensational".

Com Durand said the photos and articles were from mainstream news organisations such as Britain's BBC, The New York Times and the Washington Post and were available to Guantanamo inmates as part of the the prison's library and literacy program.’

Images Of Hanged Men 'Torture' For Hicks

Timing of Hicks charges 'an act of bastardry'
The Australian lawyer for David Hicks has accused the US military of an act of bastardry for waiting until the departure of his legal team to announce new charges.

David McLeod has just returned from visiting his client at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba, saying Hicks is a broken man.

Hicks is yet to be formally charged, but is facing charges of attempted murder and providing material support for terrorism.

Mr McLeod says he was with Hicks for four days but the US military waited until he left to announce the charges.