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Saddam execution 'within month' | Saddam execution 'within month' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could be hanged on any of the next 30 days following the rejection of an appeal against his death sentence. | Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein could be hanged on any of the next 30 days following the rejection of an appeal against his death sentence. |
Saddam Hussein had appealed against the sentence imposed on 5 November over the killing of 148 Shias in the town of Dujail in 1982. | Saddam Hussein had appealed against the sentence imposed on 5 November over the killing of 148 Shias in the town of Dujail in 1982. |
He is also on trial in a second case but under Iraqi law the execution must go ahead despite that. | |
The US called the appeal court decision a milestone in replacing "a tyrant". | The US called the appeal court decision a milestone in replacing "a tyrant". |
No further appeal | No further appeal |
The BBC's Peter Greste in Baghdad says the authorities are keeping the time and place of the execution a closely guarded secret. | The BBC's Peter Greste in Baghdad says the authorities are keeping the time and place of the execution a closely guarded secret. |
He says it might only become clear that Saddam Hussein is dead after the sentence has been carried out. | |
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 | 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 |
Appeals Court judge Arif Shaheen told a news conference in Baghdad the execution date could not "exceed 30 days". | Appeals Court judge Arif Shaheen told a news conference in Baghdad the execution date could not "exceed 30 days". |
"As from [Wednesday] the sentence could be carried out at any time," he said, adding that there could be no further appeal and the sentence could not be commuted. | "As from [Wednesday] the sentence could be carried out at any time," he said, adding that there could be no further appeal and the sentence could not be commuted. |
The White House called the ruling a landmark in Iraq's efforts "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law". | The White House called the ruling a landmark in Iraq's efforts "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law". |
But former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark was ejected from the courtroom before sentencing after handing the judge a note in which he called the trial a "travesty". | But former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark was ejected from the courtroom before sentencing after handing the judge a note in which he called the trial a "travesty". |
Saddam Hussein's defence team has also accused the Iraqi government of interfering in the proceedings - a complaint backed by US group Human Rights Watch. | Saddam Hussein's defence team has also accused the Iraqi government of interfering in the proceedings - a complaint backed by US group Human Rights Watch. |
India urged clemency - expressing concern over any delay to the restoration of peace in Iraq. The EU has also called on Iraq not to carry out the death sentence. | India urged clemency - expressing concern over any delay to the restoration of peace in Iraq. The EU has also called on Iraq not to carry out the death sentence. |
'Too lenient' | 'Too lenient' |
Saddam Hussein's defence lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said the court's verdict "was expected". | Saddam Hussein's defence lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said the court's verdict "was expected". |
The appeals court said Ramadan should also face execution | The appeals court said Ramadan should also face execution |
"We were not at all surprised, as we are convinced that this has been - 100% - a political trial," he said. | "We were not at all surprised, as we are convinced that this has been - 100% - a political trial," he said. |
The Dujail case relates to killings that followed a failed assassination attempt against the then Iraqi leader in 1982. | The Dujail case relates to killings that followed a failed assassination attempt against the then Iraqi leader in 1982. |
Saddam Hussein's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar were also sentenced to death. | Saddam Hussein's 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 was sentenced to life imprisonment and three others received 15-year prison terms. | Former Vice-President Taha Yassin Ramadan was sentenced to life imprisonment and three others received 15-year prison terms. |
The appeals court said Ramadan's sentence was too lenient and returned it to the High Tribunal for consideration of the death penalty. | The appeals court said Ramadan's sentence was too lenient and returned it to the High Tribunal for consideration of the death penalty. |
Another co-defendant, Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted. | Another co-defendant, Baath party official Mohammed Azawi Ali, was acquitted. |
Saddam Hussein is on trial separately in connection with a military campaign against Kurdish communities in the 1980s. |