(KUNA) -- A curfew declared by the authorities to maintain law and order during the expected last hearing of the marathon trial of the ousted dictator Saddam Hussein went into effect early on Sunday. Iraqi security personnel and policeman took positions at public locations while heavily-armed American troops staged intensive patrols on streets of the city, where the hearing would be held in the heavily-guarded "green zone." The court, holding the 41th session of the historic prosecution of one of the most notorious modern-time dictators, is expected to issue a death sentence against the 69-year-old ex-ruler and seven of his former advisors.Meanwhile, the American Army said a US soldier was shot dead in the western part of Baghdad late on Saturday. Authorities have taken special precautions in and around Baghdad and other cities and towns, as a precaution against possible violent action by supporters of the ousted regime.