The footage was taken in Iraq in 2000

Uncle Saddam, made by French freelance journalist Joel Soler, is compiled from footage he took during a visit to the country in 2000.

He had gained rare access to Saddam after entering Iraq on the pretext of chronicling its suffering under United Nations sanctions.

Distributors Xenon Pictures say the timing of the DVD release on 2 April - in the midst of the war - "is mere coincidence".

They said they hope the documentary will give US citizens "a candid look at the enigmatic Iraqi tyrant".

The documentary includes shots of the Iraqi president lecturing aides on how often they should shower.

The film was shown at the Vancouver Film Festival and the United Nations Film Festival in 2000.

It was praised at the time as "courageous" by David Scheffer, the then US ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues.

But Soler received a death threat at his Los Angeles home after the film was shown at a nearby cinema.