"Saddam is in Iraq now, and yes he will be tried publicly by a special Iraqi court when the prerequisites for setting up such a court are completed," Bremer told the Arabic-language daily Asharq Al-Awsat.

"The Governing Council has started setting up the special court and we have spent some funds on that and he (Saddam) will be tried publicly after bringing charges of mass killing and invading neighbouring countries against him."

"Saddam will be handed over to the Governing Council after it finishes setting up the court," Bremer said.

Asked if Saddam was cooperating with investigators, Bremer replied: "He is not cooperating, but he is not a troublemaker either."

"He has not given us any important or useful information up to now and has not confessed to the whereabouts of his offshore funds, but we know for sure that he has a lot of money outside Iraq."

He said: "Saddam was in good health as shown by recent medical exams," but no new photographs of him will be released before his trial.

"No we cannot give you any new photograph of him until he appears in front of the special court. He cannot be interviewed (by the press) directly or through written questions," Bremer told the London-based paper.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has insisted on its right to interview Saddam, who was captured by US military on December 13 and confirmed enemy prisoner of war on January 10.