Iraq's Special Tribunal officially confirmed Monday that Saddam Hussein will be tried on Oct. 19 for an alleged Shiite massacre in 1982.

The court also announced names of those who will be tried with Saddam over the massacre, in which 143 people were reportedly killed in the Shiite village of Dujail after a failed assassination attempt.

Saddam's aides who will be tried include former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, Saddam's half-brother and former head of intelligence Barzan Ibrahim al-Hassan and a former deputy chief in Saddam's cabinet, Awad Ahmad al-Bandar.

Other four former ruling Baath party officials responsible for the Dujail area will also be tried.

The eight will face death penalty if found guilty.

The Iraqi government announced last month that Saddam's trial will begin on Oct. 19 and the special tribunal was carrying out investigations against Saddam and his top aides.

Source: Xinhua