Saddam execution 'before dawn today'

Baghdad: As he awaits his final hour in a dreary, US military-run prison down the street from one of his former palaces, confusion and secrecy shroud when and how Saddam Hussain will be hanged.

Saddam will be executed before 6am (0300 GMT) on Saturday, according to news agencies, quoting senior Iraqi officials. The time of hanging was agreed upon after a meeting between US and Iraq officials, the agencies added.

Judge Moneer Haddad, a member of the appeals court which confirmed Saddam's execution order, and who has been asked to witness the execution, told reporters last night that he had been put on standby for a hanging that could take place "tonight or tomorrow".

"All measures have been taken, all papers signed," he said. Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has signed the death sentence, he said.

Saddam's defence counsel also fed speculation about the execution last night by announcing that he had been asked to send someone to collect Saddam's belongings from the US base where he is being held, suggesting the hour was almost at hand. "According to information in our possession, Saddam will be executed Saturday [today] at dawn," said one of Saddam's lawyers, adding: "The gallows is ready."

A court last week upheld a sentence that Saddam be sent to the gallows for crimes against humanity. But speculation over the timing of the historic execution mounted by the hour yesterday. In the evening, Saddam's lawyers said US forces had handed over the former president to Iraqi authorities for execution. "We have received an email from US authorities informing us that Saddam Hussain has been handed over to Iraqi authorities," Khalil Al Dulaimi said.

However, a senior US official said later Saddam had not been handed over and was still in the custody of the US-led coalition. US authorities also cancelled a meeting yesterday between Saddam and his defence team, Saddam's lawyer Essam Gazawi said.

Family farewell

As Iraq prepared to start a week-long Eid Al Adha holiday today that should halt any execution under the penal code, Al Maliki said in comments released yesterday: "Our respect for human rights requires us to execute him, and there will be no review or delay in carrying out the sentence."

Earlier, lawyers said they had been told to collect Saddam's belongings and that Saddam was allowed a visit by his brothers on Thursday - a right a condemned man has before he is hanged. A commander at the defence ministry said Saddam handed over his will to one of his half brothers.

VERBATIM
Who said what about the timing

• Statutes of the Iraqi High Tribunal: The punishment must be executed within 30 days of the date when the judgment becomes final and non-appealable.
• Iraq's Saddam-era Penal Code: The death penalty cannot be implemented on official holidays and special festivals connected with the religion of the condemned person."
• Senior US administration official on December 28: I've heard that it's going to be a couple more days, probably.
• Defence lawyer Najib Al Nuaimi on December 29: The Americans called the defence team to pick up his personal belongings. All these indications show Saddam will probably be executed tomorrow.
• Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki on December 29: There is no review or delay in carrying out the execution.
• Tribunal spokesman Raed Jouhi on December 28: If there is a presidential decree within 30 days, then they can carry it out at any time. But if there is no decree, then after 30 days it becomes obligatory.
• Deputy Justice Minister Bosho Ebrahim: The Justice Ministry will not implement it before one full month is up ... If they don't want to break the law, they cannot execute him before the 30 days is up.