Saddam Hussein was "visibly nervous" when he was transferred to Iraqi legal custody, the head of the Special Tribunal set up to try him has said.

"He was nervous, very nervous, because he did not know what was happening," Salam Chalabi told ABC television.

Mr Chalabi said Saddam Hussein had lost weight and no longer had the bushy beard he was seen with in a video after his capture in December, last year...

...Mr Chalabi told American television that the handover was "a surreal experience".

He said Saddam Hussein was not shackled when he appeared before the judge.

He said Saddam Hussein's appearance had changed since the world saw him undergo a medical inspection on a video following his capture.

"We first saw Saddam Hussein and he had lost weight. He was not the towering figure that one used to see on TV before. He was nervous, very nervous, because he did not know what was happening.

Mr Chalabi said Saddam Hussein was wearing Arab dress and that his hair was "a bit long" and "black, not grey", as it appeared in the video.

Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as Chemical Ali, was among 11 other former members of Saddam Hussein's regime who were handed over for trial at the same time.

"He looked very scared. He was shaking," said Mr Chalabi.