July 26 2004 at 10:06AM

Glum Saddam writes poems about George Bush

London - Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein appears depressed and demoralised in solitary confinement, spending his time writing poetry, tending a garden and reading the Qur'an, according to a report published on Monday in The Guardian newspaper.

One of Saddam's poems is about George Bush, though the report did not specify whether that referred to American President George W Bush or his father, former president George Bush, Saddam's foe in the 1991 Gulf War.

The newspaper quoted Bakhtiar Amin, the human rights minister in the new Iraqi government, who said he had visited Saddam's cell on Saturday. Amin said he did not speak to the former Iraqi leader.
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Bakhtiar said Saddam appeared "in good health and being kept in good conditions," but he "appeared demoralised and dejected," The Guardian reported.

'One of the poems is about George Bush, but I had no time to read it'

Saddam's air-conditioned cell in a United States military prison is three metres wide and four metres long, Amin said. Saddam is not allowed to mix with other prisoners.

Amin had little to report on Saddam's poetry. "One of the poems is about George Bush, but I had no time to read it," Amin said.

He reported that Saddam was being treated for high blood pressure and a chronic prostate infection, and was gaining weight after losing five kilograms during a time when he resisted all fatty foods.

Saddam and other detainees get an MRE (meal ready-to-eat) breakfast, and hot food twice a day, Amin said. Dessert might include oranges, apples, pears or plums, but Saddam also likes American muffins and biscuits, The Guardian quoted Amin as saying.

Saddam is not allowed newspapers, television or radio, but has access to 145 books - mostly travel books and novels - donated by the Red Cross.

'He is looking after a few bushes and shrubs'