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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| No 10 condemns execution scenes | No 10 condemns execution scenes |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The manner in which Saddam Hussein's execution was conducted was "completely wrong", the prime minister's official spokesman has said. | The manner in which Saddam Hussein's execution was conducted was "completely wrong", the prime minister's official spokesman has said. |
| The hanging, which mobile phone footage showed was preceded by Saddam Hussein being taunted, "shouldn't have happened in that way", the spokesman added. | |
| Tony Blair is expected to comment on the issue later this week. | |
| It comes after Chancellor Gordon Brown told the BBC One's Sunday AM the events were "deplorable". | |
| Initial Iraqi government film showed Saddam being executed in a relatively dignified manner, however the mobile phone footage later emerged showing Saddam - a Sunni - being taunted with Shia slogans. | |
| Downing Street also said Saddam Hussein's crimes and the deaths of Iraqis at his hands should not be forgotten. | |
| Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has also already condemned the scenes as deplorable, but Tony Blair has yet to comment in person. | Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has also already condemned the scenes as deplorable, but Tony Blair has yet to comment in person. |
| 'Shameful scenes' | 'Shameful scenes' |
| Following Mr Brown's remarks, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The prime minister's continuing silence is deafening. | Following Mr Brown's remarks, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The prime minister's continuing silence is deafening. |
| Even those people unlike me who are in favour of capital punishment found this completely unacceptable Gordon Brown UN urges stay of executions | |
| "His unwillingness to condemn the shameful scenes surrounding Saddam Hussein's execution does him no credit." | "His unwillingness to condemn the shameful scenes surrounding Saddam Hussein's execution does him no credit." |
| On Wednesday the Iraqi government began an inquiry into the unofficial footage, which appeared on the internet hours after the execution. | On Wednesday the Iraqi government began an inquiry into the unofficial footage, which appeared on the internet hours after the execution. |
| Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has also said his government could review relations with any country which criticised the execution of ex-leader Saddam Hussein. | Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has also said his government could review relations with any country which criticised the execution of ex-leader Saddam Hussein. |
| He said the hanging was a "domestic affair" for the benefit of Iraq's unity. | He said the hanging was a "domestic affair" for the benefit of Iraq's unity. |
| 'Full picture' | |
| The chancellor told the BBC the manner of the former Iraqi leader's hanging was "completely unacceptable". | |
| Mr Brown said: "Now that we know the full picture of what happened, we can sum this up as a deplorable set of events. | |
| "It is something, of course, which the Iraqi government has now expressed its anxiety and shame at. | |
| "It has done nothing to lessen tensions between the Shia and Sunni communities." | |
| He added: "Even those people unlike me who are in favour of capital punishment found this completely unacceptable and I am pleased that there is now an inquiry into this and I hope lessons in this area will be learnt, as we learn other lessons about Iraq." |