Saddam's trial starts today

The trial of the former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and seven of his aides are to resume today in Baghdad after the chairman of the court decided on Tuesday to delay it until Wednesday.

The chief attorney Jaafar al-Musawi read to the court in Tuesday's session documents which he said prove that the former Iraqi President signed an order to execute 148 persons.

Musawi said that the document which sentences 148 persons to hanging is dated June 14, 1984 and was signed by the chairman of the revolution's court Awad al-Bandar who is accused in this case and ratified by the toppled president.

The representatives of the attorney want to prove a direct link between Saddam Hussein and seven of his aides in the execution of 148 villagers from al-Dajil city after a failed assassination attempt which targeted the procession of Saddam Hussein in 1984.