THE world is today expected to get the first glimpse of Saddam Hussein since his arrest, when he appears in court accused of war atrocities and crimes against humanity with 11 of his top henchmen.

Iraq's new authorities yesterday took legal control of the 67-year-old overthrown dictator and his lieutenants in Baghdad.

Saddam will remain in a US-controlled jail guarded by Americans until the Iraqis are ready to take physical custody of him.

However, the legal transfer means that Saddam and the others are no longer prisoners of war - subject to rights under the Geneva Conventions - but criminal defendants whose treatment will be in accordance with Iraqi law.

Already there are pre-trial negotiations over permitting Saddam's foreign legal team to work in Iraq, whether to televise the proceedings live and whether to reinstate the harshest penalty in Iraq's legal code - hanging.

Salem Chalabi, director of the Iraqi Special Tribunal that will try Saddam, said today's appearance at the Baghdad tribunal for a formal reading of the charges was expected to be filmed for public release.

The pictures would offer the first bit of video since Saddam's December 13 capture by US soldiers, when a clip showed the bushy-bearded leader opening his mouth for a dental examination.

Mr Chalabi said that Saddam, who appeared to have lost weight since his capture, said "Good morning" as he entered the room to give him the news that he was being placed under Iraqi jurisdiction.

The other defendants were also brought into the room individually to hear that they would appear in court today.

Mr Chalabi said one of them, Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali" for his role in poison gas attacks, looked scared. "He was shaking," said Mr Chalabi.

The charges that will be put to Saddam today are likely to include the 1988 chemical weapons massacre of Kurds and the 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

As well as Ali Hassan, the first batch of Saddam's lieutenants to face the tribunal include former vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan, former deputy prime minister Tariq Aziz, and two of Saddam's half brothers.