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US denies Saddam handed to Iraqis US denies Saddam handed to Iraq
(about 2 hours later)
US officials have denied reports that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been transferred to Iraqi custody ahead of his execution. US officials have denied reports that former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been transferred to Iraqi custody, as speculation mounts about his execution.
Saddam Hussein's lawyers earlier said they had been notified of his handover to the Iraqi authorities. Saddam Hussein's lawyers earlier said they had been notified of his handover.
This follows intense speculation about the timing of his execution, with some reports that it may be imminent. No details have been made public of when or where Saddam Hussein will be hanged. A court rejected his appeal against the death sentence on Tuesday.
Details have not been made public and may be revealed only afterwards to avoid civil disruption and unrest. US embassies have been warned to prepare for an execution within days, a US official told the BBC.
"There has been no change in his (Saddam Hussein's) status," US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said. "There has been no change in his (Saddam Hussein's) status," US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said late on Friday.
Saddam Hussein 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. Saddam Hussein could be hanged at any time over the next four weeks, although one judge said he would die on Friday or Saturday.
A senior official from the state department told the BBC a diplomatic cable had been sent to all US embassies warning them to prepare for Saddam Hussein's execution within days. No-one can oppose the decision to execute the criminal Saddam Nouri MalikiIraqi Prime Minister
According to AP news agency, a senior Iraqi government official said a meeting would be held on Friday evening to set a time for the execution.
Earlier a senior US state department official said a diplomatic cable had been sent to all US embassies warning them to prepare for Saddam Hussein's execution within days.
US forces in Iraq are braced for any backlash following the execution, defence department officials said.US forces in Iraq are braced for any backlash following the execution, defence department officials said.
The BBC's Peter Greste in Baghdad says all the legal hurdles have now understood to have been cleared and that if anything is likely to hold up the execution, it would be administrative details. The BBC's Peter Greste in Baghdad says all the legal hurdles are now understood to have been cleared and that if anything is likely to hold up the execution, it would be administrative details.
An appeal against Saddam Hussein's execution for the killings of 148 Shias in Dujail in the 1980s failed earlier this week.
'Dignity of victims''Dignity of victims'
The former Iraqi leader has been in US military custody at Camp Cropper in Baghdad.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. Earlier on Friday his lawyers said they had been asked to collect Saddam Hussein's personal effects.
"No-one can oppose the decision to execute the criminal Saddam," Mr Maliki was quoted by AFP as saying. Attacks are a daily occurrence in post-Saddam Baghdad
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 news agency as saying.
"Those who reject the execution of Saddam are undermining the dignity of Iraq's martyrs.""Those who reject the execution of Saddam are undermining the dignity of Iraq's martyrs."
Our Baghdad correspondent says the timing is significant: Mr Maliki has always said he wanted to see the former leader hanged before the end of the year, and Saturday is also the first day of the Muslim Eid festival, when most Iraqis will be at home. Mr Maliki has always said he wanted to see the former leader hanged before the end of the year.
Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by an Iraqi court on 5 November after a lengthy trial. Saddam Hussein was sentenced to death by an Iraqi court on 5 November after a year-long trial over the killings of 148 Shias from the village of Dujail in the 1980s.
A trial in a second case, genocide against Kurds, continues against him. A trial in a second case, alleging genocide against Kurds, continues against him.
The former Iraqi leader was captured by US troops on 13 December 2004, after a tip-off.
He was found hiding in a tiny cellar at a farmhouse near his hometown of Tikrit.