Saddam handed over to Iraqi authorities for execution at dawn Sat.

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-30-2006 08:55

Special Report:   Iraq in Transition

Lawyers representing Saddam Hussein have reported that US officials handed him over on Friday, to Iraqi authorities for execution. And the former Iraqi President is scheduled to be hanged between 5:30 and 6:00am GMT.

As he awaits his final hour in a dreary, U.S. military-run prison down the street from one of his former palaces, confusion and secrecy on Friday shrouded when and how Saddam Hussein will be hanged.

Speculation over the timing of the historic execution is flying thick and fast amid conflicting reports about Saddam's transfer to Iraqi authorities.

Issam Ghazzawi, Saddam Hussein Legal Defence Team, said, "The American party is saying that he's not in the Iraqi custody, five minutes ago they declared that they did not transfer him to Iraqi custody but I received an e-mail stating that I'll not be able to go to Iraq tomorrow because the security is not available, they are involved in another thing, and if I arrive to Iraq even I will not meet the president because he is no longer in their physical custody."

As Iraq prepared to start a week-long religious holiday on Saturday, that should halt executions under Iraqi law. The US-created al Hurra television quoted unnamed sources as saying workers were busy erecting gallows in the Green Zone by the Tigris.

A US official in Baghdad also denied reports that the US military had handed over the former president.

Many senior Iraqi officials denied reports in Iraqi media that Saddam could go to the gallows as early as Saturday.

Saddam sentenced to death by hanging. Full Story >>

 

Editor:Du Xiaodan