Iraq's Special Tribunal will begin its trial for Saddam Hussein as scheduled on Oct. 19, spokesman of the court said on Thursday.

Saddam, former Iraqi President, was captured by US troops in December 2003 following the downfall of his regime in the US-led war beginning in March of the same year.

"The first session on Wednesday will open proceedings against Saddam and seven of his top aides for crimes against humanity and killing of 143 Shiite Muslim villagers at Dujail in 1982," Judge Raed Juhi told a news conference.

Juhi said the defendants would be charged for 12 other cases. Investigations would soon be finished in some of these cases, he added.

The trial will be public, according to Juhi who hoped it will be broadcast live on television.

Juhi was the investigating judge who brought the initial charges against Saddam. He has been named spokesman of the special tribunal appointed to try Saddam and his aides.

Source: Xinhua