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Saddam verdict timing 'suspect' Saddam verdict timing 'suspect'
(40 minutes later)
Former Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind has accused the US of delaying the verdict in Saddam Hussein's trial to coincide with the mid-term polls.Former Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind has accused the US of delaying the verdict in Saddam Hussein's trial to coincide with the mid-term polls.
He told BBC One's Question Time he had no evidence but the timing of the verdict was "deeply suspect".He told BBC One's Question Time he had no evidence but the timing of the verdict was "deeply suspect".
The Tory MP believed the US told the Iraqi court to hold off until just before the US elections, he said.
Former Iraq president Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging this week for crimes against humanity.Former Iraq president Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by hanging this week for crimes against humanity.
He was sentenced on Sunday - President Bush's Republican party suffered heavy losses in the polls on Tuesday, allowing the Democrats to take control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. The White House has dismissed similar accusations as "preposterous" and said the Iraqi judges determined the timing.
But Tory MP Mr Rifkind said he believed the US told the Iraqi court to hold off until just before the US elections.
Saddam Hussein was sentenced on Sunday but despite that President Bush's Republican party lost control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate in Tuesday's mid-terms.
Many of the losses were put down to anger over the Iraq war. One of its key architects, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, has since stood down.Many of the losses were put down to anger over the Iraq war. One of its key architects, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, has since stood down.
Saddam Hussein's death penalty has been condemned by human rights groups and the European Union has urged Iraq not to carry out the sentence.Saddam Hussein's death penalty has been condemned by human rights groups and the European Union has urged Iraq not to carry out the sentence.
But President Bush welcomed the verdict as a "milestone" in the efforts of the Iraqi people "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law".But President Bush welcomed the verdict as a "milestone" in the efforts of the Iraqi people "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law".
A Downing Street spokeswoman said on Thursday the " Iraqi judicial system is a matter for the Iraqis" and refused to comment on Mr Rifkind's "suspicions".