The Iraqi tribunal which sentenced Saddam Hussein to death this month for crimes against humanity has forwarded its ruling to the appeal court, the first procedural step in the appeal process.
"Thirty-four boxes containing the ruling and all documents related to the Dujail trial were delivered yesterday to the appeal court," an Iraqi official close to the court said on condition of anonymity.
On November 5, Saddam was sentenced to death by hanging for ordering the execution of 148 Shias from the village of Dujail after he escaped an assassination bid there in 1982.
His half-brother and intelligence chief Barzan al-Tikriti was also sentenced to death, along with Awad Ahmed al-Bandar, chairman of the so-called Revolutionary Court that ordered the Shias executed.
Saddam's former vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan received a life sentence, while three Baath party officials from Dujail received 15 years each and a fourth, more junior figure, was cleared.
Under the law the defence team has 30 days from the date of the verdict to file an appeal.