The prosecution has presented volumes of documents linking the former president and others to the killings, including signed letters ordering the villagers to be tried and jailed and later allegedly executed.

The trial began in October, but has been marred by the murder of two defence lawyers and the January resignation of the first chief judge, who critics say failed to clamp down on Saddam and his outbursts.

International human rights experts claim that the trial continues to be conducted well below international legal standards.

After the Dujail trial, Saddam and six others will also face charges of genocide over the 1988 Anfal campaign against Kurds that left an estimated 100,000 to 180,000 people dead.