Saddam Hussein's death-penalty appeal has been rejected and his sentence now must be carried out within thirty days. He was convicted of killing dozens - if not hundreds - of Shiite Muslims in the early 1980's.
From My Way News:
"From tomorrow, any day could be the day" Saddam is sent to the gallows, the chief judge said. Saddam was condemned to death for his role in the execution of 148 Shiite Muslims from the small northern town of Dujail, after a 1982 assassination attempt.
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In upholding the sentence, imposed Nov. 5, the Supreme Court of Appeals also affirmed death sentences for two of his co-defendants, including his half brother. And it said life imprisonment for a third was too lenient and demanded he be given the death penalty, too.
Saddam's hanging "must be implemented within 30 days," said Aref Shahin, chief judge of the appeals court. "From tomorrow, any day could be the day of implementation."
There has been no report of when - or where - the hanging will take place, or if Hussein has been moved to Iraqi custody. he had been in U.S. custody pending appeals and other trials.
Saddam's chief defence counsel, Khalil al-Dulaimi, told Reuters from Amman: "If they dare implement the sentence it will be a catastrophe for the region and will only deepen the sectarian infighting."
The appeals court decision must be ratified by President Jalal Talabani and Iraq's two vice-presidents. Mr Talabani opposes the death penalty but has in the past deputed a vice-president to sign an execution order on his behalf - a substitute that was legally accepted.
Raed Juhi, a spokesman for the court that convicted Saddam, said the judicial system would ensure he was executed even if Mr Talabani and the two vice-presidents did not ratify the decision. "We"ll implement the verdict by the power of the law," he said without elaborating.
In yesterday's ruling the court also rejected appeals by Saddam's half-brother, Barzan al-Tikriti, and a former judge, Awad al-Bander, both of whom were sentenced to death over the Dujail killings.
The news comes amidst some of the bloodiest violence since the start of the war.
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***UPDATED 12/28/06***: Reports suggest that Hussein will be moved from U.S. custody to Iraqi custody within the next twenty-four hours. His execution could be held this weekend. The Iraqi Government will likely videotape the execution, although it does not appear that the execution will be televised, for fear of inciting more violence in the region.
His Baath party has warned of reprisals against U.S. interests if the execution goes forward.
Related posts: Baath Party threatens the U.S.
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