A spokesman for the Iraqi government, Leith Kubba, has announced that prosecutors have narrowed their case against Saddam Hussein to focus on 14 charges out of a possible 500, including the gassing of the Kurdish town of Halabja on March 16, 1988.
Mr Kubba added they were confident that these charges were sufficient to ensure he receives the maximum sentence, which could mean the death penalty.
Saddam faces a litany of accusations from his more than two decades in power including the forceful repression of the 1991 Shi’ite rebellion and the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
A date for the trial has not been set but it is expected to take place within the next two months.