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| Version 18 | Version 19 |
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| Saddam Hussein sentenced to death | Saddam Hussein sentenced to death |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Saddam Hussein has been convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by hanging. | Saddam Hussein has been convicted of crimes against humanity and sentenced to death by hanging. |
| The former Iraqi leader was convicted over the killing of 148 people in the mainly Shia town of Dujail following an assassination attempt on him in 1982. | The former Iraqi leader was convicted over the killing of 148 people in the mainly Shia town of Dujail following an assassination attempt on him in 1982. |
| His half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar were also sentenced to death. | His half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar were also sentenced to death. |
| Former Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan got life in jail and three others received 15-year prison terms. | Former Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan got life in jail and three others received 15-year prison terms. |
| Another co-defendant, Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted. | Another co-defendant, Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted. |
| Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants will be given the right to appeal, but that is expected to take only a few weeks and to end in failure for the defendants. | Saddam Hussein and his co-defendants will be given the right to appeal, but that is expected to take only a few weeks and to end in failure for the defendants. |
| Long live Iraq! Long live the Iraqi people! Down with the traitors! Saddam Hussein, reacting to verdict Excerpts: Courtroom clashes Saddam dominates drama In pictures: Iraq's reaction | Long live Iraq! Long live the Iraqi people! Down with the traitors! Saddam Hussein, reacting to verdict Excerpts: Courtroom clashes Saddam dominates drama In pictures: Iraq's reaction |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki hailed the conviction in a televised address, saying that the sentence was "not a sentence on one man, but a sentence against all the dark period of his rule". | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki hailed the conviction in a televised address, saying that the sentence was "not a sentence on one man, but a sentence against all the dark period of his rule". |
| "Maybe this will help alleviate the pain of the widows and the orphans, and those who have been ordered to bury their loved ones in secrecy, and those who have been forced to suppress their feelings and suffering, and those who have paid at the hands of torturers," Mr Maliki said. | "Maybe this will help alleviate the pain of the widows and the orphans, and those who have been ordered to bury their loved ones in secrecy, and those who have been forced to suppress their feelings and suffering, and those who have paid at the hands of torturers," Mr Maliki said. |
| The White House also welcomed the verdict. | The White House also welcomed the verdict. |
| "It's a good day for the Iraqi people," spokesman Tony Snow said. | "It's a good day for the Iraqi people," spokesman Tony Snow said. |
| 'Triumphant smile' | 'Triumphant smile' |
| When called to court, Saddam Hussein, dressed in his usual dark suit and white shirt and carrying a Koran, walked to his seat and sat down. | When called to court, Saddam Hussein, dressed in his usual dark suit and white shirt and carrying a Koran, walked to his seat and sat down. |
| Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman ordered him to stand while he read out the verdict, but the former president refused to do so and had to be moved from his seat by court attendants. | Judge Rauf Abdel Rahman ordered him to stand while he read out the verdict, but the former president refused to do so and had to be moved from his seat by court attendants. |
| As the judge began reading the death sentence Saddam Hussein shouted out "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Great) and "Long live Iraq! Long live the Iraqi people! Down with the traitors!" | As the judge began reading the death sentence Saddam Hussein shouted out "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Great) and "Long live Iraq! Long live the Iraqi people! Down with the traitors!" |
| The verdict sparked celebration in Baghdad but protests in Tikrit href="javascript: void window.open('http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/06/middle_east_enl_1162728914/html/1.stm', '1162729033', 'toolbar=0,scrollbars=0,location=0,statusbar=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,width=750,height=518,left=312,top=100');" >Enlarge Image | |
| The former leader looked shocked and furious as the sentence was passed, and continued to shout, denouncing the court, the judge and the US-led occupation force in Iraq. | The former leader looked shocked and furious as the sentence was passed, and continued to shout, denouncing the court, the judge and the US-led occupation force in Iraq. |
| But the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson said that after his tirade, which was clearly deliberate, Saddam Hussein seemed to have a small smile of triumph on his face as he was led away from the courtroom. | But the BBC's world affairs editor John Simpson said that after his tirade, which was clearly deliberate, Saddam Hussein seemed to have a small smile of triumph on his face as he was led away from the courtroom. |
| "It was as if he was thinking 'I've come here and done what I intended to do,'" our correspondent said. | "It was as if he was thinking 'I've come here and done what I intended to do,'" our correspondent said. |
| Hometown anger | Hometown anger |
| Shortly after the verdict there were jubilant scenes in the Shia district of Sadr City, and in the holy city of Najaf. | Shortly after the verdict there were jubilant scenes in the Shia district of Sadr City, and in the holy city of Najaf. |
| The Baghdad celebrations came in defiance of a 12-hour curfew on the city, amid fears of violence from Saddam Hussein's Sunni Arab supporters. | The Baghdad celebrations came in defiance of a 12-hour curfew on the city, amid fears of violence from Saddam Hussein's Sunni Arab supporters. |
| THE VERDICTS Saddam Hussein, former Iraqi president: found guilty and sentenced to deathBarzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti, Saddam Hussein's half-brother: found guilty and sentenced to deathAwad Hamed al-Bandar, Chief Judge of Revolutionary Court: found guilty and sentenced to deathTaha Yasin Ramadan, former Iraqi vice-president: found guilty and sentenced to life in jail Abdullah Kadhem Ruaid Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jailAbdullah Rawed Mizher, Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jailAli Daeem Ali, Senior Baath official: found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in jail Mohammed Azawi Ali, Baath official: acquitted | |
| Three nearby provinces are also under curfew, including Salahuddin, which contains Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. | Three nearby provinces are also under curfew, including Salahuddin, which contains Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. |
| Thousands also defied the measure in Tikrit - to voice support for Saddam Hussein. | Thousands also defied the measure in Tikrit - to voice support for Saddam Hussein. |
| Almost three years since his capture, soaring sectarian violence has brought Iraq to the brink of civil war. | Almost three years since his capture, soaring sectarian violence has brought Iraq to the brink of civil war. |
| Few Iraqis think the trial verdict will ease conflict, the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says. | Few Iraqis think the trial verdict will ease conflict, the BBC's Andrew North in Baghdad says. |
| Even those who want to see their former leader dead do not believe his execution will make things better, our correspondent says. | Even those who want to see their former leader dead do not believe his execution will make things better, our correspondent says. |
| 'Trial flawed' | 'Trial flawed' |
| Many critics have dismissed the trial as a form of victors' justice, given the close attention the US has paid to it. | Many critics have dismissed the trial as a form of victors' justice, given the close attention the US has paid to it. |
| Before the sentencing session began, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark was ejected from the courtroom after handing the judge a note in which he called the trial a "travesty". | Before the sentencing session began, former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark was ejected from the courtroom after handing the judge a note in which he called the trial a "travesty". |
| Saddam Hussein's defence team have also accused the government of interfering in the proceedings - a complaint backed by US group Human Rights Watch. | Saddam Hussein's defence team have also accused the government of interfering in the proceedings - a complaint backed by US group Human Rights Watch. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY This is just another sad episode in the tragic drama of Iraq Mohammed, Iraq Send us your comments Celebrations and protests The process was marked by frequent interruptions by defendants and their lawyers and problems with security. | HAVE YOUR SAY This is just another sad episode in the tragic drama of Iraq Mohammed, Iraq Send us your comments Celebrations and protests The process was marked by frequent interruptions by defendants and their lawyers and problems with security. |
| The first judge assigned to preside over the case, Rizgar Amin, resigned after complaining of government interference and three defence lawyers were assassinated. | The first judge assigned to preside over the case, Rizgar Amin, resigned after complaining of government interference and three defence lawyers were assassinated. |
| And the former leader's lawyers have attacked the timing of the planned verdict, which comes days before the US votes in mid-term elections. | And the former leader's lawyers have attacked the timing of the planned verdict, which comes days before the US votes in mid-term elections. |
| US President George W Bush's Republican Party is at risk of losing control of Congress, in part because of voter dissatisfaction over its handling of the Iraq conflict. | US President George W Bush's Republican Party is at risk of losing control of Congress, in part because of voter dissatisfaction over its handling of the Iraq conflict. |