Iraq's US appointed government will establish a tribunal for crimes against humanity in the coming days that could try hundreds of officials, including Saddam Hussein and his top aides.
Some human rights groups criticised the plans, saying the US occupiers have too much of a hand in them and that Iraqi judges and prosecutors may not have the experience needed to try the cases.
The law creating the tribunal - which could be passed on Sunday - will be similar to proposals made in Washington in April, one member of Iraq's Governing Council said.
The law calls for Iraqi judges to hear cases presented by Iraqi lawyers, with international experts serving only as advisers.
That would be starkly different from UN tribunals set up to consider war crimes in the former Yugoslavia and in Rwanda.
In those cases, international judges and lawyers have argued and decided cases.
AP