A verdict in the trial of Saddam Hussein and seven former aides on charges of crimes against humanity is expected by early August, a US official close to the court said. "I expect a verdict by the end of July or early August," said the official.
Saddam and the seven other former regime officials are on trial for the killing of 148 Shiites from the village of Dujail in the early 1980s after an attempt on the then president's life.
The trial resumed Monday after a five-day break and was adjourned to May 15 to give the defense time to present their witnesses.
"I believe the defense will present its case now and then the court will take a recess for about a month" ahead of the July or August verdict, the US official said.
He said that separate genocide charges against Saddam and six co-defendants for the killing of tens of thousands of Kurds would only be heard after the conclusion of the Dujail case.
"At no stage the Anfal case will be held right at the same time as the Dujail case," he said.
