Saddam's trial may start soon
2005-08-11 14:39
Baghdad - The trial of Saddam Hussein could begin within the next two months, said a source close to the Iraqi Special Tribunal that will try the former dictator on Thursday.
Ousted in April 2003 after the United States-led invasion of Iraq and captured the following December, Saddam was in US custody near Baghdad airport, awaiting trial on charges of crimes against humanity.
A source said: "My best guess is that the trial could begin 45 days from the day the defence looks at the evidence."
The source said he believed Saddam's defence team had looked at the documents, but that it was up to the Special Tribunal to announce the date for a trial.
'Investigation is going forward'
The source said although the tribunal had had little interaction with the public, "I can tell you with absolute certainty that the investigation is going forward thoroughly and rapidly".
The source said the trial needed to be both transparent and fair, with the possibility of an appeal on all the charges.
On Monday, Saddam's family announced it sacked all members of his foreign defence team, which was made up of about 20 active lawyers and several hundred more supporters, and would deal only with Khalil Dulaimi, his Iraqi lawyer.
The Iraqi court filed the first charges against Saddam in late July over the 1982 killing of 143 residents of the village of Dujail, Baghdad, where he had been the target of a failed assassination bid.
- AFP