Q&A: Saddam on trial

How is Saddam Hussein being tried?

Iraq's Special Tribunal (IST) will try the former Iraqi President in a heavily guarded courtroom in Baghdad.

Five judges will hear the trial, and witnesses will be asked questions by the chief judge.

Saddam's chief lawyer is Abdel Haq Alani, an Iraqi living in London.

If he's convicted, he could face the death penalty.

What has he been charged with?

Although Saddam is accused of lots of crimes, he's only being charged with one event - the killing of more than 140 men in the town of Dujail in 1982, after a group tried to kill him.

Other charges could be brought against him and his followers later, including using chemical weapons, and starting a war with Iran in 1980.

However, it's thought that if he's found guilty of the Dujail charges, the others will be dropped, so that he can be executed quickly.

Who else is being tried?

Seven other people are on trial with Saddam. They include two very senior members of his government, and five less important officials.

• Barzan Ibrahim al-Hassan, Saddam's half-brother. Thought to have tortured and killed thousands of people.
• Taha Yassin Ramadan, the former vice-president. Thought to have been involved in some of the worst events carried out by Saddam's government.
• Awad Hamad al-Bandar al-Saadun, the former chief judge of the Revolutionary Court.
• Abdullah Khadem Ruweid, Mezhar Abdullah Ruweid, Ali Daeh Ali and Mohammed Assam Al-Ali are officials with responsibility for the Dujail area.

How will Saddam defend himself?

Firstly, his lawyers are expected to ask for more time to prepare their defence.

They could also say that the court is illegal under international law, because it was set up while the country was occupied by the US.

Also, they might say that the people in Dujail had been found guilty by Iraqi law, and Saddam simply signed the death warrants.

Are there any worries about the trial?

International human rights groups have said they're concerned about whether the court is legal, and are also worried about the death penalty.

Human Rights Watch says the trial might not meet international standards for fairness, as the judges only need to be "satisfied" that Saddam is guilty.

International courts need to prove someone is guilty "beyond reasonable doubt".