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Saddam Hussein's top aides hanged Saddam Hussein's top aides hanged
(30 minutes later)
The half-brother of Saddam Hussein and the former head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court have been hanged, reports say. The half-brother of Saddam Hussein and the former head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court have been hanged in Baghdad.
The executions were carried out before dawn, state TV said, but there has so far been no official confirmation. Barzan al-Tikriti and Awad Hamad al-Bandar were convicted over the killing of 148 Shias after an attempt on Saddam Hussein's life in 1982.
Barzan al-Tikriti and Awad Hamad al-Bandar were convicted over the killing of 148 Shias after an attempt on Saddam Hussein's life in Dujail. Officials were quick to stress that "no violations" were reported during the executions, after the chaotic scenes surrounding that of Saddam Hussein.
The former Iraqi leader was hanged in a chaotic execution on 30 December, after being convicted of the same crime. But Barzan al-Tikriti was decapitated during the hanging, a spokesman said.
State television Iraqiya has reported the deaths, quoting a government source. The executions apparently took place in the same building where Saddam Hussein was put to death. He described this as "normal", although rare, and as "an act of God".
A government news conference is scheduled for 1030 (0730GMT). The executions apparently took place in the same building where Saddam Hussein was put to death on 30 December after being convicted of the same crime.
The manner of his execution has sparked controversy around the world, after unofficial mobile phone footage was released showing him being taunted and insulted in his final moments.
Iraq's Shia-dominated government pledged a full investigation, and last week Iraqi President Jalal Talabani urged authorities to delay the executions of his aides.
They have now been carried out, the spokesman said, but this time, he stressed, everyone present at the facility had signed a document pledging appropriate behaviour.
There has as yet been no official footage released of the executions.
'Key target
Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti was the former Iraqi leader's half-brother and served as the head of his feared secret police, the Mukhabarat.Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti was the former Iraqi leader's half-brother and served as the head of his feared secret police, the Mukhabarat.
He was a senior figure in the Iraqi government at the time of the US-led invasion of 2003 and was a key target for capture.
Awad Hamad al-Bandar was chief justice of the Iraqi Revolutionary Court. According to his indictment, he conducted show trials which often lead to summary death sentences.
He was the head of the Revolutionary Court which issued death sentences against 143 Dujail residents, in the aftermath of the failed assassination attempt on the president on 8 July 1982.
Video taunts
The latest executions took place against a backdrop of lingering concern in Iraq and around world over the circumstances surrounding Saddam Hussein's execution.
Profile: Awad Hamad al-Bandar Profile: Barzan al-Tikriti Profile: Awad Hamad al-Bandar Profile: Barzan al-Tikriti
The BBC's Mike Wooldridge says nothing is yet known of how the latest executions were carried out. He was a senior figure in the Iraqi government at the time of the US-led invasion of 2003 and was a key target for capture.
Video footage of Saddam Hussein's execution released onto the internet after the event revealed that the former Iraqi leader was taunted and insulted in the moments immediately before his death. Awad Hamad al-Bandar was chief justice of the Iraqi Revolutionary Court. According to his indictment, he conducted show trials which often led to summary death sentences.
The unauthorised footage showed Shia guards mocking the ousted leader, a Sunni, with the name of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. He was the head of the Revolutionary Court which issued death sentences against residents of the town of Dujail in the aftermath of the failed assassination attempt on the president on 8 July 1982.
Images of his body immediately after death also emerged from the execution chamber.
The chaotic scenes were condemned by many around the world, and Iraq's Shia-dominated government pledged a full investigation.
Earlier this week Iraqi President Jalal Talabani urged authorities to delay the latest executions.