Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein went on a new trial in the capital on Monday morning, charged with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in the alleged anti-Kurdish Anfal campaign in late 1980s.

The trial began in a court in the Green Zone in central Baghdad.

The ousted president was in the dock with six co-defendants, including his cousin Ali Hassan al-Majid, popularly known as "Chemical Ali" for allegedly ordering poison gas attacks against Kurds, especially Halabja attack.

Chemical Ali faces the same charges.

The grey-bearded 69-year-old Saddam was led into the Iraqi High Tribunal in his dark business suit, along with six co-defendants accused of leading the 1987-1988 Anfal campaign against Iraq's Kurdish minority.

The five others accused are former Defense Minister Sultan Hashim Ahmad, former intelligence chief Saber Abdul Aziz al-Douri, former Republican Guard Commander Hussein al-Tirkiti, former Nineveh Provincial Governor Taher Tafwiq al-Ani and former top military commander Farhan Mutlaq al-Jubouri.

During the session, Saddam refused to enter a plea and dismissed the tribunal backed by the United States as "a court of occupation."

Al-Majid also refused to plead.

Chief Judge Abdullah al-Amiri, a Shiite, then entered a plea of not guilty on behalf of them.

The prosecution team made the opening statement, accusing Saddam of ordering the Anfal campaign and charging all the defendants with war crimes and crimes against humanity for their involvement in the Anfal campaign aimed at clearing the Kurdish along the border with Iran, who were accused by Saddam of helping Iran in its war with Iraq.

Thousands of Kurdish villages were razed and some 100,000 Kurds were reportedly killed in the offensive, many died from chemical weapons, such as mustard gas and sarin.

Saddam and seven others have been on trial since Oct. 19, 2005, for allegedly killing 148 Shiites in the village of Dujail following a failed assassination attempt against Saddam in 1982.

The trial has been adjourned until Oct. 16 when a verdict is expected to be delivered. Saddam will face death penalty by hanging if found guilty.

It is unclear whether the sentence would be carried out before the Anfal trial concludes.