Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's nephew was arrested by the Iraqi army in Saddam's hometown Tikrit on Tuesday night, an army source told Xinhua Wednesday.

"Yasir Sabawi, who is wanted by the Iraqi government, was caught on Tuesday night for the demonstration that supported Saddam in Tikrit," the source said.

Saddam and seven other defendants stood trial for the first time in Baghdad on Wednesday on charges of killing 143 people in Dujail in 1982 after surviving an assassination attempt.

The judge announced the trial would be adjourned until Nov. 28.