Galloway denies he fawned over Saddam Hussein

MP George Galloway was caught on video "fawning over" Saddam Hussein by praising his strength and courage, the High Court heard today.

Mr Galloway also wrote a column in a Sunday newspaper describing the Iraqi dictator's "gentle handshake" and offer of Quality Street chocolates, the court was told.

In fiery exchanges across the courtroom, Mr Galloway thundered: "How dare you!" when accused of defending Saddam over the chemical weapons massacre at Halabja.

The tape of his speech in 1994 was played in court on the second day of his libel action against the Daily Telegraph. James Price, QC, for the Telegraph, pointed out that Mr Galloway was delivering the speech in front of dignitaries, including Saddam and his henchman Tariq Aziz.

Mr Galloway said he had been referring to the courage of the Iraqi people, not the dictator he had denounced for 10 years.

He was referred to another part of the speech, which had been broadcast on Baghdad radio, in which he said he was still meeting parents who were calling their sons Saddam. "It could be said that you were fawning on him?" said Mr Price.

Mr Galloway replied: "It is a measure of the failures of the policies supported by your client (the Daily Telegraph) that that is so and people all over the world are calling

their sons Saddam."

Mr Galloway was then shown a copy of a column he wrote in the Mail on Sunday in 2002 describing a meeting with Saddam. The former Labour MP described Saddam's "gentle handshake", his "surprisingly diffident nature" and the way he "radiates power".

Said Mr Price: "... No mention of the fact that you regard him as one of the most bestial people on earth."

Mr Galloway said: "I was trying to stop a disastrous war and wanted to convey the feeling of the Iraqi people that they should extend an olive branch to Great Britain."

Earlier, Mr Price had pressed Mr Galloway over the Halabja massacre by Saddam's troops using chemical weapons. Mr Galloway suggested the estimated 12,000 death toll was an exaggeration by western governments.

"Are you defending Saddam Hussein over Halabja now?" said Mr Price. Mr Galloway replied: "How dare you!"

Mr Galloway is suing the Daily Telegraph over allegations based on documents found in Baghdad after the fall of Saddam. He claims the paper accused him of being paid at least ?375,000 a year by Saddam's regime.

The case continues.