An Iraqi tribunal will try former president Saddam Hussein and members of his Baathist regime, CNN quoted an Iraqi Governing Council spokesman as saying on Tuesday.

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Salem Chalabi, nephew of Ahmed Chalabi, the head the Iraqi National Congress, will head the tribunal, the network quoted council spokesman Entefadh Qanbar as saying.

The tribunal has a budget of $75 million for 2004-2005, he added.

No trial date has been set.

French attorney Jacques Verges, who has long made a name for himself representing notorious world figures, has said he will lead a team of defence lawyers in any future trial.

Saddam was captured on December 13 near his hometown of Tikrit and has remained in coalition custody in Iraq.

A 50-member team of US Justice Department officials is in Iraq organising evidence that could be used against Saddam once he goes on trial.