Iraq's special tribunal has filed its first charges against former president Saddam Hussein for crimes committed during his 24-year rule.
The chief investigating judge says the charges stem from the 1982 killings of dozens of villagers in Dujail where Saddam survived an assassination attempt.
Authorities say the killings were retaliation for the attempt. The judge said Sunday that a trial date could be announced in a matter of days.
He added that other investigations are nearing their final stages. The Dujail case is widely seen as relatively uncomplicated compared to cases of alleged genocide and crimes against humanity still under investigation.
Information for this report is provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
