Sunday, September 4 2005 18:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and seven of his former henchmen will go on trial on October 19, 2005 over the massacre of 143 people in the village of Dujail, a Government official announced today (Sept 4, 2005).

"In view of recent leaks to the press and in the absence of an official spokesman for the tribunal, I have been authorised to announce that the trial of Saddam Hussein will begin on October 19," Government spokesman Laith Kubba told a news conference.

Saddam and seven others will be tried by Iraq's special tribunal in connection with the 1982 killing of 143 residents in Dujail, North-East of Baghdad, where he had been the target of a failed assassination bid.

Saddam is also later expected to face separate trials on further counts of crimes against humanity, particularly with regard to the gassing of Kurds and the mass killings of Shiites in the south of the country.

Saddam, who was ousted in April 2003 and captured by United States forces in December of that year, could face the death penalty if found guilty.