Saddam is sentanced to DEATH!

[Yoshimitsui]

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to death by hanging.

The ex-president, who was deposed in the US-led invasion three years ago, was convicted of crimes against humanity by a court in Baghdad.

The charges relate to the killing of 148 Shias in the village of Dujail in 1982. Saddam's trial heard that he ordered the slaughter in revenge for an assassination attempt.

Sectarian tensions have been running high in Iraq in the run-up to the hearing, with a major security clampdown in force.

A 12-hour curfew imposed in Baghdad and three other provinces - including Salahuddin, which contains Saddam's home town of Tikrit.

The reaction in Iraq to the news will be watched closely around the world including in the US where mid-term elections are just two days away.

As the verdict was delivered a visibly shaken Hussein shouted "God is great" and "Life for the glorious nation, and death to its enemies"

His half brother Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the head of Iraq's former Revolutionary Court, were also sentenced to death by hanging for their part in the killings.

Former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan was convicted of murder and given a life term, while three other defendants were convicted of murder and torture and sentenced to up to 15 years in prison. One defendant was acquitted for lack of evidence.

Hussein's defence team had said they were expecting a death sentence before the hearing in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, and are apparently preparing an appeal. He still faces further trials over a number of other alleged crimes.

Theses are the words of msn news.

[Blinger1]

Wow... how do they kill people these days? By hanging them or by shooting them?

[-Wolverine]

Is he going to die in the US or Iraq, where the people can do whatever they want to him?

[Yoshimitsui]

I fink they are hanging him in the US.

[Blinger1]

for more information go here:

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=92527

[liquid]

good :)

[Simmzay]

U.S is allowed to hang people? Note the passage "trying him in Iraq". Probably going to happen there.

[Blinger1]

A visibly shaken Saddam Hussein was found guilty of crimes against humanity and sentenced to hang on Sunday at a lightning session of the US-backed court trying him in Baghdad.

Two other senior aides, including his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti, will also hang if their automatic appeals fail. His former vice-president was sentenced to life in prison and three minor Baath party officials received long sentences.

Baghdad's Shi'ite-led government welcomed the verdict.

"This is the least Saddam deserved," Ali al-Dabbagh, spokesman for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, told Reuters.

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At first refusing to stand before the judge, the 69-year-old ousted president, who has defiantly defended killing and torturing Shi'ite opponents, eventually rose shakily to his feet in the dock to hear the verdict and sentence read out.

As chief judge Raouf Abdul Rahman spoke, Saddam, his hands clenched behind his back, almost succeeded in drowning him out, yelling the Muslim battle cry of "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Greatest) and "Long Live Iraq!".

"The court has decided to sentence Saddam Hussein al-Majid to be hanged until he is dead for crimes against humanity," the judge said, ignoring a plea made by Saddam earlier in the trial that he should face a military firing squad, not the noose.

Abdul Rahman, prompted by the defence lawyers, ordered one of the guards around Saddam out of court for chewing gum and apparently laughing at the condemned man.

After more than a year of proceedings in the case involving the deaths of more than 148 Shi'ite men from the town of Dujail, there was little left to be said. Like his co-accused, Saddam was led away by guards after hearing his sentence.

After just 45 minutes, Abdul Rahman wound up proceedings.

There was sporadic celebratory gunfire in Baghdad, notably from areas where the long oppressed Shi'ite majority live.

Maliki had called for calm in rejoicing but also said Saddam should get "what he deserves".

His government has been criticised for interfering in the case - notably by the first chief judge, who quit. Abdul Rahman's first act in court on Sunday was to eject former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark after the veteran legal campaigner sent him a note describing the trial as a "mockery of justice".

The Iraqi High Tribunal also handed down death sentences to former revolutionary chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bander and to Saddam's half brother and former intelligence chief Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti. Former Iraqi vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan was sentenced to life in prison.

The fourth minor Baath party official from Dujail was acquitted on the prosecutor's request for lack of evidence.

The charges stemmed from the killing of 148 Shi'ite men in Dujail after an assassination attempt against Saddam in 1982.

A death sentence or life imprisonment generates an automatic appeal, delaying any execution by months at least.

As Shi'ites and Kurds began celebrations across Iraq, Malcolm Smart of human rights watchdog Amnesty International, said: "We deplore the verdict of the death penalty.

that was on ninemsn.com.au

[Yoshimitsui]

U.S is allowed to hang people? Note the passage "trying him in Iraq". Probably going to happen there.

Im not sure if they can hang people, but i doubt it will be done in Iraq because that will create WW3.

[Blinger1]

maybe not.

After just 45 minutes, Abdul Rahman wound up proceedings.

There was sporadic celebratory gunfire in Baghdad, notably from areas where the long oppressed Shi'ite majority live.