Baghdad-Saddam Hussein and three others will stand trial in the 1982 massacre of villagers north of Baghdad, a senior judge announced Sunday. It is the first criminal case brought against the ousted leader.

Raid Juhi, chief judge of the Iraq Special Tribunal, said the preliminary investigation into the July 8, 1982 massacre in Dujail, has been completed and the case referred to the courts for trial.

&#34The date for the trial will be determined within the few coming days by the gentlemen in the criminal court,&#34 Juhi was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.

The announcement roughly corresponds to an indictment in U.S. jurisprudence, legal officials said, although Saddam and the others will be considered &#34charged&#34 when they appear in court. The court will now have 45 days to announce a date for the start of the trial.