Region | Iraq
Saddam deserved 'dignified death'
US President George W. Bush says he expects the Iraqi government to conduct a full investigation over the execution of Saddam Hussain.
- Agencies
- Published: 00:00 January 6, 2007
- Image Credit: AP
- Jordanian protesters shout slogans against Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr while holding pictures of Saddam Hussain during a rally in Amman.
Washington/Cairo: Saddam Hussain could have been hanged in a "more dignified way," US President George W. Bush said on Friday as Egypt's Hosni Mubarak said a video of Shiite officials taunting the deposed Iraqi leader on the gallows was "barbaric".
In Bush's first comments on Saddam's hanging, he said he expected the Iraqi government to conduct a full investigation. "I wish the proceedings had gone in a more dignified way. But nevertheless, he was given justice," Bush said.
Mubarak said in an interview that pictures of the execution were "revolting and barbaric" and the hanging had turned Saddam into a martyr.
British Prime Minister Tony Blair said he will comment on the execution this week while French President Jacques Chirac unleashed a torrent of criticism against the US-led war in Iraq, saying the conflict had boosted the spread of terrorism.
Protests over Saddam's execution continued on Friday, stoking sectarian anger.
In Bahrain, firebombs were hurled at the premises of a Bahraini Baathist group that has been receiving condolences.
In Egypt, at least 100 people demonstrated against the execution, holding the US occupation of Iraq and Iranians responsible.
Several hundred people in Beirut also paid homage to Saddam by staging a symbolic funeral, while in Amman around 3,000 people demonstrated. Protests also rocked Indian Kashmir and Sri Lanka.
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