[JURIST] Defense lawyers for former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein [JURIST news archive; BBC profile] and seven other former officials on trial are expected to call 40 witnesses, a prosecutor in the case said Sunday. Included among the 40 are three former ministers in Saddam's government and others currently being held by the US in Iraq. Testimony from some of the witnesses is scheduled when the trial [JURIST news archive] resumes on Wednesday. All eight are being tried for ordering the 1982 massacre of 148 Shiites after an assassination attempt on Saddam. AFP has more.

Previously on JURIST's Paper Chase…

• Rice slams world 'boycott' of Saddam trial
• Former US AG Clark condemns treatment of Hussein
• Clark says witnesses against Saddam giving false testimony
• Saddam lawyers report security threats
• Saddam trial adjourned until Dec. 21