The United States said on Tuesday that the trial of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein is up to the Iraqis to decide and the special tribunal to conduct the trial with basic international standards.

"This is an Iraqi process. The Iraqi people will make the decision about how they hold Saddam Hussein to account for his crimes against humanity and his brutalities against the Iraqi people," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said at a briefing.

The special tribunal has put in place "basic international standards" when it comes to the legal process, and "we look to them to move forward and meet those international standards that everybody expects should be there in a legal case, particularly one of this nature," McClellan said.

"That means to have a trial, be represented by council, to have due process and to have a right to appeals, among other things," McClellan said.

The United States invaded Iraq and toppled the Saddam regime. Saddam, 68, is to appear in court on Wednesday along with other senior officials of his regime.

Some critics and human rights groups have warned that Saddam and his top aides may not be able to get a fair trial.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2005)