A court has decided to start the first trial of Saddam Hussein on Oct. 19 and is in the process of notifying his legal team, an official said Friday.
The official, according to The AP, said the date was chosen so that Iraqis would have completed the referendum on the constitution before the start of the trial.
Iraqis go to the polls Oct. 15 to decide whether to accept or reject the new constitution.
On Thursday, another official said the decision had been taken to start the trial between Oct. 15 and 20.
Saddam and three co-defendants will stand trial for the 1982 massacre of Shiites in Dujail, a town north of Baghdad, after a failed assassination. Saddam could receive the death penalty.
