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Saddam Hussein 'in Iraqi hands' Saddam Hussein 'in Iraqi hands'
(20 minutes later)
Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been handed over to the Iraqi authorities ahead of his execution, his lawyers say they have been told.Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been handed over to the Iraqi authorities ahead of his execution, his lawyers say they have been told.
"The American side has notified us that they have handed over the president to the Iraqi authorities," lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said, quoted by Reuters."The American side has notified us that they have handed over the president to the Iraqi authorities," lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi said, quoted by Reuters.
This follows a day of speculation about when Saddam Hussein will be executed. His comments follow a day of intense speculation about when Saddam Hussein will be executed.
An appeal against his execution for the killings of 148 Shias in Dujail in the 1980s failed earlier this week. Neither the US or Iraqi authorities have confirmed the handover.
A trial in a second case, genocide against Kurds, continues. An appeal against Saddam Hussein's execution for the killings of 148 Shias in Dujail in the 1980s failed earlier this week.
The former Iraqi leader has been in US custody at Camp Cropper - a US military jail in Baghdad. He could be hanged at any time over the next four weeks, although one judge quoted by the Associated Press said he would die on Friday or Saturday.
Earlier on Friday his lawyers said they had been asked to dispose of Saddam Hussein's personal effects. He was sentenced to death by an Iraqi court on 5 November. He was sentenced to death by an Iraqi court on 5 November.
There has been no confirmation of the handover by the US or Iraqi authorities. 'Dignity of victims'
The former Iraqi leader has been in US military custody at Camp Cropper in Baghdad.
Earlier on Friday his lawyers said they had been asked to dispose of Saddam Hussein's personal effects. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki said there would be no delay in carrying out the death sentence.
"No-one can oppose the decision to execute the criminal Saddam," Mr Maliki was quoted by AFP as saying.
"Those who reject the execution of Saddam are undermining the dignity of Iraq's martyrs."
Another lawyer told the BBC that Saddam Hussein's half-brothers Sabawi Ibrahim and Watban Ibrahim - also in prison - were taken to visit him on Thursday.
A trial in a second case, genocide against Kurds, continues against Saddam Hussein.