Blair breaks silence on Saddam

London: Tony Blair's office on Sunday said the prime minister believed the manner in which former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussain was executed was "completely wrong", adding to criticism aired by senior ministers and Blair's likely successor Gordon Brown.

Blair planned to speak about the hanging later this week, but believed that process had been poorly handled, his office said.

Treasury chief Gordon Brown, who is expected to succeed Blair as prime minister, said the taunting of Saddam during his execution and the release of illicitly recorded video was "deplorable" and "completely unacceptable".

Blair has faced increasing pressure to share his views on the execution after his deputy John Prescott and Brown both criticised the hanging.