Saddam trial soon

last updated 8 January 2015

Baghdad

The Iraqi Special Tribunal said this week that it would put former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein on trial within a few months. American legal advisors had recommended trying Saddam’s top aides first, so that their testimony could be used to strengthen the case against him. But the Iraqi government said the people wanted to see Saddam face justice as soon as possible. It said it would focus on 12 specific crimes that were fully documented and that would earn him a death sentence. Saddam’s lawyer, Khalil al-Duleimi, denied reports that his client was in a depression. “The last time I met Saddam was in late April,” al-Duleimi said, “and his spirits were very high.”