US diplomats around the world have been warned to prepare for the execution of Saddam Hussein within days. The US State Department cabled all embassies, and also denied reports that Iraq's former leader had already been transferred to Iraqi custody.

 

The cable comes on a day of feverish speculation about his fate. Defence lawyers have lodged an appeal in a US court asking a judge to block his execution, arguing that his trial violated the US constitution. But Iraq's prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki has said there will be no reprieve for Saddam Hussein, whose final appeal against his death sentence was turned down on Tuesday.

 

No official details have been made public about when the death sentence will be carried out. But the State Department urged all embassies to increase security in case the execution takes place over the weekend.

 

Under Iraqi law Saddam Hussein could be hanged at any time over the next four weeks, although one judge said he would die on Friday or Saturday. The BBC's Adam Brookes, in Washington says the Bush administration is keen to portray the process leading up to Saddam's execution as a matter purely for the Iraqi government and its court system.

 

Maximum security

 

Earlier on Friday, Saddam Hussein's lawyers said they were notified that he had been transferred to Iraqi custody, an assertion then denied by the US.

 

"There has been no change in his status," US State Department spokesman Tom Casey said late on Friday. It is thought he will remain in US custody until the execution is carried out.

 

When he is taken to the gallows Saddam Hussein will be nominally transferred to Iraqi custody, but the US will continue guarding him to maintain maximum security. According to the AP news agency, a senior Iraqi government official said a meeting would be held on Friday evening to set a time for the execution.

 

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 are now understood to have been cleared and that if anything is likely to hold up the execution, it will be administrative details. Some reports say doubt remains over whether the execution could be carried out before the Islamic holiday of Eid, which begins at noon on Saturday (0900 GMT).

 

'Dignity of victims'

 

The former Iraqi leader has been in US military custody at Camp Cropper in Baghdad. It is not clear whether he is still being held there as his execution approaches.

 

His lawyers said they had been asked to collect Saddam Hussein's personal effects on Friday. 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."

 

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 year-long trial over the killings of 148 Shias from the village of Dujail in the 1980s.

 

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.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6218245.stm

They said that the execution will be Saturday or Sunday

even in about three hours......perhaps.

I think he will be dead by the time the UK wake up... and the US go to bed, so to speak

Well, I think he'll be dying around US prime-time (for alot of people) if current reports are credible..

 

We'll see...

i think he'll die (maybe now...) and they'll let us know afterwards...

It's about to happen...pretty much in few mins.

This all seems surreal.

 

After he's dead, what's going to happen???

- People will watch it online.

 

- There will be no decrease in violence in Iraq but there will be an increase.

 

- More innocent people will be killed.

 

- I'll still be annoyed our country didn't do more to stop the hanging.

 

- The illegal 'power & money' wars will continue.

He should have had his trial in the international court. The whole thing is flawed. :angry:

Of course it is. There's so much wrong with the whole charade that it hurts my brain to even try and put it all into words.

 

I'm just checking out the scum over at FOX NEWS CHANNEL and ALL they are talking about is how the American people need to realise that Saddam killed a lot of people. They've continually failed to mention that this (to capture/kill saddam) isn't the reason that we (our countries) went into Iraq and cause such sickening bloodshed.

 

Our countries have also killed A LOT of people in Iraq, with up to 600,000 innocent deaths, based on a complete pack of lies.

He's supposed to be dead before 10pm E.T., where I am (I'm watching the news) That's less than 3 minutes away.

 

I don't know what to say.

He's dead.

That's what some Arab reports are saying. But we can't be too sure.

He'll be dead, if he isn't already, before I wake up tomorrow. Wow. :\

..Yea I just saw on the news they said like 10 minutes ago he was hanged..its 10:17pm in my area..

 

I dont understand..there are ppl that have killed WAYYY more ppl nd are just having a jolly old time in jail. if ne thing he should just have gotten life.

He should've had a proper trial but oh no, America are just covering their own butts too.

Well, he probably was responsible for 1 million+ deaths overall (using weapons given to him by over governments).....but I don't think execution is right and in this case it will cause the deaths of many more in violent clashes.

 

He's served his purpose to our currupt leaders and he's now surplus to requirement. It wasn't even the reason to go into Iraq.

If the US & UK had found weapons of mass destruction and put him on trial for these then I think it would have a little bit more sense......but oh no, sense is out of the window and it's all about something else.....

In death he will however aid the US military and global elite agenda of increasing regional conflict.

if ne thing he should just have gotten life.

 

My mom just said that. :stunned:

This is crazy, it doesn't seem right.

^For reals. Like..wen he was alive..I wasnt worried.but now that he's dead..I kinda am....I mean..didnt america just make alot more ppl mad?

I wish them much luck..i think they need it.. :\

It isn't right. Things will get worse in Iraq...

He's dead. Well, he's been dead :dozey: , but we just confirmed it.

Shit, I'm terrified! What's going to happen!?!?!?!

I know, I'm glad that they finally caught him and all, but the whole hanging thing....well it sounds just so........:\.

"25 Minutes To Go"

 

Well they're building a gallows outside my cell I've got 25 minutes to go

 

And the whole town's waitin' just to hear me yell I've got 24 minutes to go

 

Well they gave me some beans for my last meal I've got 23 minutes to go

 

But nobody asked me how I feel I've got 22 minutes to go

 

Well I sent for the governor and the whole dern bunch with 21 minutes to go

 

And I sent for the mayor but he's out to lunch I've got 20 more minutes to go

 

Then the sheriff said boy I gonna watch you die got 19 minutes to go

 

So I laughed in his face and I spit in his eye got 18 minutes to go

 

Now hear comes the preacher for to save my soul with 13 minutes to go

 

And he's talking bout' burnin' but I'm so cold I've 12 more minutes to go

 

Now they're testin' the trap and it chills my spine 11 more minutes to go

 

And the trap and the rope aw they work just fine got 10 more minutes to go

 

Well I'm waitin' on the pardon that'll set me free with 9 more minutes to go

 

But this is for real so forget about me got 8 more minutes to go

 

With my feet on the trap and my head on the noose got 5 more minutes to go

 

Won't somebody come and cut me loose with 4 more minutes to go

 

I can see the mountains I can see the skies with 3 more minutes to go

 

And it's to dern pretty for a man that don't wanna die 2 more minutes to go

 

I can see the buzzards I can hear the crows 1 more minute to go

 

And now I'm swingin' and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!

"25 Minutes To Go"

 

Well they're building a gallows outside my cell I've got 25 minutes to go

 

And the whole town's waitin' just to hear me yell I've got 24 minutes to go

 

Well they gave me some beans for my last meal I've got 23 minutes to go

 

But nobody asked me how I feel I've got 22 minutes to go

 

Well I sent for the governor and the whole dern bunch with 21 minutes to go

 

And I sent for the mayor but he's out to lunch I've got 20 more minutes to go

 

Then the sheriff said boy I gonna watch you die got 19 minutes to go

 

So I laughed in his face and I spit in his eye got 18 minutes to go

 

Now hear comes the preacher for to save my soul with 13 minutes to go

 

And he's talking bout' burnin' but I'm so cold I've 12 more minutes to go

 

Now they're testin' the trap and it chills my spine 11 more minutes to go

 

And the trap and the rope aw they work just fine got 10 more minutes to go

 

Well I'm waitin' on the pardon that'll set me free with 9 more minutes to go

 

But this is for real so forget about me got 8 more minutes to go

 

With my feet on the trap and my head on the noose got 5 more minutes to go

 

Won't somebody come and cut me loose with 4 more minutes to go

 

I can see the mountains I can see the skies with 3 more minutes to go

 

And it's to dern pretty for a man that don't wanna die 2 more minutes to go

 

I can see the buzzards I can hear the crows 1 more minute to go

 

And now I'm swingin' and here I go-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!

 

How morbid. :stunned::(

Well, he probably was responsible for 1 million+ deaths overall (using weapons given to him by over governments).....but I don't think execution is right and in this case it will cause the deaths of many more in violent clashes.

 

He's served his purpose to our currupt leaders and he's now surplus to requirement. It wasn't even the reason to go into Iraq.

If the US & UK had found weapons of mass destruction and put him on trial for these then I think it would have a little bit more sense......but oh no, sense is out of the window and it's all about something else.....

In death he will however aid the US military and global elite agenda of increasing regional conflict.

I guess I don't need to post here. You just said it all! He's made a great scape-goat for the US and their allies in life. Now, in death, he'll make a great martyr for those who supported him (and anyone else looking for an easy excuse to harm others).:cry:

 

And one more thing: Killing the killers makes you a...killer...?;)