Former Iraqi Governing Council member Ahmed Chalabi and his nephew Salem – head of the tribunal trying Saddam Hussein – have dismissed charges against them as "ridiculous".

Protected by about 100 guards, Iraq’s interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has visited the war-shattered city of Najaf, calling on Shiite militants to lay down their weapons after days of fierce clashes with US forces.

The interrogation of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has stopped until he appoints lawyers, the director of the Iraqi Special Tribunal said.

A DEFIANT Saddam Hussein rejected charges of war crimes and genocide in a court appearance in Baghdad yesterday, telling a judge "this is all theatre, the real criminal is Bush".

A defiant Saddam Hussein rejected charges of war crimes and genocide in a court appearance in Baghdad today, telling a judge “this is all theatre, the real criminal is Bush”.

Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein appeared before an Iraqi judge in Baghdad today to hear charges of crimes committed during his 24-year rule, the Arab language television stations Al Jazeera and Al-Arabiya reported.

Saddam Hussein and 11 of his top lieutenants will not be asked to respond to specific charges when they appear today before an Iraqi judge today.

IRAQ'S new authorities took legal control of Saddam Hussein and 11 others in Baghdad yesterday, setting the stage for a court appearance for the former Iraqi dictator to face war crimes charges on his 24 years in power.

Iraq’s new authorities took legal control of Saddam Hussein and 11 others in Baghdad today, setting the stage for a court appearance to face war crimes charges on his 24 years in power.

Legal custody of Saddam Hussein and 11 others was transferred to the Iraqis today, an international official said in Baghdad.

Iraqis and the world will get their first glimpse of Saddam Hussein since his capture in December when he and 11 of his top lieutenants are brought to court tomorrow to face war crimes charges likely to include the 1988 chemical weapons massacre of Kurds and the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

The US will hand legal custody of Saddam Hussein and a number of other former regime figures to the interim Iraqi government as soon as local courts issue warrants for their arrest and request the transfer.

SADDAM HUSSEIN could face the death penalty, the head of Iraq's war crimes tribunal said yesterday.

Saddam Hussein could face the death penalty, the head of Iraq’s war crimes tribunal said today.

Iraqi authorities hope to file criminal charges against Saddam Hussein and others in the former regime before the June 30 transfer of sovereignty to the new government, a senior official said today.

Ahamd Chalabi, once the Pentagon’s favourite Iraqi, found himself the target of a US army raid in Baghdad today.

Saddam Hussein will recognise no court if he goes to trial in Iraq, where a “justice of vengeance” would be meted out, the French lawyer on a team defending the toppled Iraqi dictator said in Paris.

Saddam Hussein will recognise no court if he goes to trial in Iraq, where a “justice of vengeance” would be meted out, the French lawyer on a team defending the toppled Iraqi dictator said in Paris.

The head of Iraq’s war-crimes tribunal said today that the United States had pledged to hand over Saddam Hussein and about 100 other suspects to Iraqi authorities before July 1, when Iraq assumes sovereignty from its US-led occupiers.

Iraqi leaders have set up a tribunal of judges and prosecutors to try ousted dictator Saddam Hussein.

One person was wounded when at least 10 rockets detonated in central Baghdad, near an area that houses the headquarters of the US-led coalition.

IRAQ is still intent on trying former leader Saddam Hussein at home despite his current status as a prisoner of war in US hands, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said yesterday.

Iraqi politicians and a top Shiite cleric have successfully resolved their differences over the country’s interim constitution and will sign the charter tomorrow.

An interim Iraqi constitution, put together after a stormy debate in Baghdad, established a bill of rights and struck compromises on the structure of a future presidency and the role of Islam.