While the trial of the former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein will not begin until next year, his lieutenants will appear this month before the Special Court, charged with crimes against humanity, announced the Iraqi Deputy Prime minister Barham Salih on 29 November. Ali Hassan al-Majid, alias «Chemical Ali», is thought to be responsible for gassing the Kurds of Halabja in March 1998, causing the deaths of 5000 people. A former advisor to Saddam Hussein, Watban Ibrahim Hassan al-Tikriti, could also find himself in the witness box soon. Salih also said that the court has appointed a president, a spokesperson and lawyers to represent the accused, reports Reuters.