Saddam trial 'will be over by end of year'

Saddam Hussein’s trial on war crimes charges will be over by the end of the year, Iraq’s justice minister said today.

Justice Minister Abdel Hussein Shandal, in Brussels for an international conference on Iraq, said the ousted leader would be tried in Iraqi courts.

However, the Baghdad government has not set a firm date for the start of his trial, and court proceedings could interfere with the crucial process of drafting Iraq’s constitution, which must be completed by mid-August.