Iraq and Iran have issued a statement blaming Saddam Hussein and his henchmen for being the aggressors in the 1980-88 war between the two countries and Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.
The statement, issued yesterday during Iranian Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi's historic trip to Iraq, comes as the Shia Muslim-dominated governments of both countries try to forge better ties following Saddam's overthrow two years ago.
Iraqis in the new government and Iran's Shia-led theocracy have previously blamed the former Iraqi dictator for starting the bloody eight-year war against Iran, in which one million people died.
But the latest statement marks the first time Iraq has joined Iran in accusing the former Iraqi president of being the aggressor in the war.
"The two sides confirm the necessity of trying the leaders of the former regime in Iraq in a fair trial because they committed war crimes and crimes against humanity and their military aggression against the Iraqi people, Iran and Kuwait," the statement said.
Iran has said previously it is considering filing a suit against Saddam for invading Iran, which says it is owed billions in war damages.
Iraq also owes billions to Kuwait for damage to oil facilities and the environment caused during Iraq's seven-month occupation of Kuwait that began August 1990 and ended with the February liberation by a US-led coalition during the Gulf War.
Ties between Kuwait and Iraq have resumed since Saddam's fall.
The former Iraqi dictator, who was captured in December 2003, is facing charges that include killing rival politicians during his 30-year rule, gassing Kurds, invading Kuwait in 1990 and suppressing Kurdish and Shia uprisings in 1991.
He is in US military custody with several of his former top aides awaiting trial. No trial dates have been set.
AP