Reuters AlertNet - FACTBOX-Questions, answers on Iraq tribunal, Saddam trial

Reuters AlertNet - FACTBOX-Questions, answers on Iraq tribunal, Saddam trial: "May 15 (Reuters) - Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein refused to enter a plea at his trial which resumed on Monday after he was formally charged with ordering the killing and torture of hundreds of Shi'ite villagers.

Following are some questions and answers about the Iraqi tribunal trying Saddam Hussein and seven others.

WHO IS TRYING SADDAM?

Saddam and his co-defendants are being tried before what was originally called the Iraqi Special Tribunal, established in December 2003 by U.S.-led occupation authorities. It became known as the Iraqi High Tribunal in October and consists of two trial chambers with five judges in each.

The chief judge, Rizgar Amin, resigned in protest over what he says is government interference with the court. The interim chief judge is Raouf Abdel Rahman.

WHO BROUGHT THE CHARGES?

The tribunal has 20 investigative judges, led by a chief investigator, who gather evidence against suspects. Once an investigator has gathered evidence, including depositions from witnesses, he presents his case to the chief investigator.

If he gives the go-ahead, the case file is presented to the trial judges who decide whether there is enough evidence to proceed. In Saddam's case, the evidence about the killing of more than 140 Shi'ite Muslim men from Dujail village, north of Baghdad, after a 1982 attempt on the former president's life, was gathered by chief investigative judge Raad Jouhi.

The case against Saddam and the others was presented in court by the chief prosecutor.

WHO IS DEFENDING SADDAM AND THE OTHERS?

Saddam is being defended by a small team of lawyers led by Khalil al-Dulaimi, an Iraqi with little experience in major criminal cases. The other defendants are represented by an array of Iraqi lawyers. Since the trial began on Oct. 19, gunmen have killed two defence lawyers and wounded a third, who has fled the country.

Former U.S. Attorne"