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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Blair critical of hanging scenes | Blair critical of hanging scenes |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair believes the manner in which Saddam Hussein's execution was conducted was "completely wrong", his official spokesman has said. | Tony Blair believes the manner in which Saddam Hussein's execution was conducted was "completely wrong", his official spokesman has said. |
| Mobile phone footage showed Saddam Hussein was taunted before the hanging. | Mobile phone footage showed Saddam Hussein was taunted before the hanging. |
| Setting out comments Mr Blair is expected to make this week, the spokesman said the execution "shouldn't have happened in that way". | Setting out comments Mr Blair is expected to make this week, the spokesman said the execution "shouldn't have happened in that way". |
| Earlier Chancellor Gordon Brown told BBC One's Sunday AM the events were "deplorable" and "unacceptable". | Earlier Chancellor Gordon Brown told BBC One's Sunday AM the events were "deplorable" and "unacceptable". |
| Mr Blair has been criticised for not commenting in person since the footage of the 30 December execution emerged, but he is expected to do so in the coming week. | Mr Blair has been criticised for not commenting in person since the footage of the 30 December execution emerged, but he is expected to do so in the coming week. |
| His spokesman also said Saddam Hussein's crimes and the deaths of Iraqis at his hands should not be forgotten. | His spokesman also said Saddam Hussein's crimes and the deaths of Iraqis at his hands should not be forgotten. |
| Inquiry | Inquiry |
| Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, standing in for Mr Blair when the prime minister was on holiday, condemned the scenes as deplorable. | Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, standing in for Mr Blair when the prime minister was on holiday, condemned the scenes as deplorable. |
| Downing Street has previously said Mr Blair supported an Iraqi investigation into the hanging. | Downing Street has previously said Mr Blair supported an Iraqi investigation into the hanging. |
| Even those people unlike me who are in favour of capital punishment found this completely unacceptable Gordon Brown href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6239199.stm" class="">Aides 'to die this week' | |
| 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. |
| Initial Iraqi government film showed Saddam Hussein being executed in a relatively dignified manner, but the mobile phone footage which later emerged showed the former Iraqi leader - a Sunni - being taunted with Shia slogans. | Initial Iraqi government film showed Saddam Hussein being executed in a relatively dignified manner, but the mobile phone footage which later emerged showed the former Iraqi leader - a Sunni - being taunted with Shia slogans. |
| Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said his government could review relations with any country which criticised the execution. | Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has said his government could review relations with any country which criticised the execution. |
| 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' | 'Full picture' |
| The chancellor told the BBC the manner of the former Iraqi leader's hanging was "completely unacceptable". | The chancellor told the BBC the manner of the former Iraqi leader's hanging was "completely unacceptable". |
| Gordon Brown and John Prescott have both condemned the hanging | Gordon Brown and John Prescott have both condemned the hanging |
| Mr Brown said: "Now that we know the full picture of what happened, we can sum this up as a deplorable set of events. | 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 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." | "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." | 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." |
| Following Mr Brown's remarks, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell criticised Mr Blair for not yet commenting, saying: "The prime minister's continuing silence is deafening. | Following Mr Brown's remarks, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell criticised Mr Blair for not yet commenting, saying: "The prime minister's continuing silence is deafening. |
| "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." |