Iraqi tribunal to try Saddam

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.