BAGHDAD -- Five former members of Saddam Hussein's regime -- including one of his half brothers -- will go on trial for crimes against humanity allegedly committed in retaliation for a failed attempt to kill the former dictator, a special tribunal said yesterday.
The announcement marked the first time that the special court has issued referrals, similar to indictments, the final step before trials can start.
No trial date was given. Due to a mandatory waiting period, at least 45 days must pass from the referral before a trial can begin.
The five include Barzan Ibrahim al-Hassan al-Tikriti, one of Saddam's half brothers, and former vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan. The three others were senior Ba'ath Party members.
The five officials are facing charges of crimes against humanity for their alleged involvement in a crackdown in Dujail, 50 miles north of Baghdad, that was organized in retaliation for a failed 1982 assassination attempt against Hussein.
At least 50 Iraqis were allegedly executed in the Shi'ite town.
''This case is one of several cases being investigated," the tribunal said in a statement. ''The detainees of this case are also accused of other crimes still being investigated."
The referrals were the first of many expected to be issued in coming weeks, including one against Hussein's notorious cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, better known as ''Chemical Ali."
The three others on trial were identified as Awad Hamad al-Bander Al-S'adun, a former chief judge of the Revolutionary Court, Abdullah Kadam Roweed al-Musheikhi, and his son, Mizher Roweed al-Musheikhi. The latter two were Ba'ath officials in Dujail.
Hussein was captured north of Baghdad in December 2003, and others have been in custody for nearly two years.
Another of Hussein's half brothers, a most-wanted leader in the Sunni-based insurgency, has been handed over to Iraqi officials by Syria.
The arrest of Sabawi Ibrahim al-Hassan ended months of Syrian denials it was harboring fugitives from the ousted Hussein regime. Iraq authorities said Damascus acted in a gesture of goodwill.
