Saddam's Death Sentence

27 Dec. 2006 Baghdad ~ Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein could be hanged to death within a month.

On Tuesday the Iraq appeals court upheld his death sentence. Saddam was sentenced to death in November for his role in the execution of 148 Shiites in the town of Dujail in 1982. Under Iraqi law a death sentence, once confirmed at appeal, should be carried out within a month.

"Our role is over. Now the implementation procedure will be started, but according to our law, the sentence must be implemented within 30 days," said Aref Shahin, Chief Judge. Moments after the sentence on Saddam was upheld, residents of the city of Najaf expressed their joy.

"Today we celebrate the announcement of the verdict for (former Iraqi President) Saddam Hussein. The government should have executed him earlier, not now." "It is a joy for the Iraqi people, especially as we are approaching the Holy Eid (the Moslem feast of Eid al-Adha)," said Kadhum Ali, Local Resident.

"The verdict against the tyrant Saddam is too soft, he deserves more than that. He should be cut to pieces before the world, because he committed crimes against the Iraqi people," said Ahmed, Local Resident. The sentence, however, was also followed by protests in Tirkit and Adhamiya, and a car bomb in the Sunni Arab district of Adhamiya killed 15 people.

US hails decision

In a report last month, New York-based Human Rights Watch condemned the verdict as unsound, saying the court had been guilty of so many shortcomings that a fair trial had been impossible.

Nevertheless, the White House has called the ruling a milestone. During a year long trial, three of Saddam's lawyers were murdered, three judges left the five-member panel and the original chief judge was replaced. The defense was also prevented from cross-examining witnesses. The US-led Coalition Provisional Authority ruled out an international tribunal or a mixed court under UN auspices.

Meanwhile, the European Union has called on Iraq not to carry out the death sentence.

CFPA: Saddam should be hanged immediately....his death sentence should be carried out as fast as he handed out his death sentences on untold thousands of innocent people. This man is pure evil and he has already got more than he deserved, a trial, good food, clothing, and imprisonment without torture. We hope they release a photo of him hanging by the neck so we can get a copy and hang it in our headquarters.