Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has ended his hunger strike for "health reasons," his chief lawyer Khalil Dulaimi said on Monday.

"The president maintained his hunger strike for 11 days but was forced to end it for health reasons," Dulaimi, who met Saddam for seven hours in Baghdad on Sunday, told Reuters.

Saddam staged a hunger strike to protest against his court proceedings.

Dulaimi said US prison officials intervened with defense lawyers to end Saddam's strike to "prevent any adverse health impact" adding that the toppled leader had lost some weight but did not elaborate.

Dulaimi said he found Saddam in "high morale" during the time he spent alone with him deliberating defense strategy after the defense team walked out of the trial in protest at court proceedings.

(Chinadaily.com via agencies February 28, 2006)