Saddam Hussein Hanging LIVE Thread

[AVNevis]

Since it now seems very imminent, I decided that it was an appropriate time to start this up. Links to information and pictures (if we get them) can be posted here.

[Luke Skyfreeper]

I would also emphasize the reporter said State Department said "MAY" be a few more days.

This corresponds with the AFP report above that Saturday (which has already arrived per my understanding) or Thursday after the holidays are likely dates.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Saturday or in five days

Five days? Sheesh, by then this thread will have degenerated into the FReeper ladies exchanging cornbread recipes, and FReeper guys posting a bazillion pictures of Lindsey Lohan, and the whole Hobbit bunch carrying on.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

From Reuters:

US hands Saddam to Iraqis for execution -lawyer
Fri Dec 29, 2006 5:19 PM GMT143

*********************************************

By Mariam Karouny

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. officials on Friday handed over Saddam Hussein to Iraqi authorities for execution, his chief lawyer said, but conflicting accounts swirled over whether the ousted president would be hanged within hours.

Senior Iraqi officials, including two cabinet ministers, the Justice Ministry which is responsible for executions, a court prosecutor and an aide to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, all denied comments from a U.S. official and reports in Iraqi media that Saddam could go to the gallows as early as Saturday.

But an Iraqi television channel quoted a judge saying he would die on Friday or Saturday and defence lawyer Khalil al- Dulaimi told Reuters: "The Americans have notified us that they have handed over the president to the Iraqi authorities.

"They told us the president is no longer under the authority of the American forces and they requested us not to go to Baghdad," added Dulaimi.

He earlier said he had been told to arrange to collect Saddam's personal effects -- a move another defence lawyer said indicated he could die on Saturday.

A U.S. military spokesman referred questions to another spokesman who was not immediately available for comment.

Saddam, whose appeal against a conviction for crimes against humanity was rejected this week, has long been formally in Iraqi custody but physically held by U.S. military guards.

As during his appearances in court, U.S. officials are concerned that Saddam be treated with due propriety and so a physical transfer to a site beyond U.S. control has so far seemed to be likely only very close to the execution.

[PISANO]

In the DBM's never ending pursuit to be FIRST they keep their ACCURACY record at 0%!!

Pathetic!!!

[Earthdweller]

"Is he dead yet? is he dead yet? is he dead yet?"

LOL...

No NonValueAdded, he's not dead yet. Now go get your popcorn and sit down before we have to put you back in your crate. :)~

[Alouette]

[xsmommy]

i think this is slim's coy way of wrangling that recipe out of you, martin. please give it to him.... ; )

[null and void]

This is bad?

[Tijeras_Slim]

Is he dead yet? is he dead yet? is he dead yet?

"Twenty minutes" That's what my Dad always said to me at hangings. Or was that when we were driving somewhere? I get those two mixed up.

[Ladysmith]

Recipes?! Kewl beans! Sign me up!

LOL!

[bnelson44]

Although legally in Iraqi custody, U.S. troops have hitherto physically kept guard over Saddam and are expected to hold on to him until the last minute to avoid security breaches.

Pretty much explains the confusion.

[Darksheare]

You should post that in the resident troll's thread.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

And from Reuters:

Saddam could hang in hours -Iraqi officials
Fri Dec 29, 2006 6:45 PM GMT144

************************************************

By Mariam Karouny

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Saddam Hussein could be hanged within hours, a senior Iraqi source told Reuters on Friday after Saddam's lawyer said U.S. forces had handed over the former president to Iraqi authorities for execution.

U.S. officials, however, insisted that the 69-year-old ousted dictator was still in American hands.

And a leading politician said Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was waiting for a religious ruling on whether Saturday's start of the Eid al-Adha holiday, coinciding with the haj pilgrimage to Mecca, meant the execution should be postponed for a week.

An appeals court on Tuesday upheld Saddam's November 5 death sentence for the killings, torture and other crimes against the Shi'ite population of the town of Dujail.

After a day of conflicting signals, during which the Justice Ministry had said it could legally do nothing for a month, the senior Iraqi source said debate over whether a presidential decree was needed to override that was over.

"That is resolved so it seems it's possible he may be hanged tonight," the source said.

Najib Naimi, a former Qatar justice minister who served on Saddam's legal defence team, said he expected his client to be hanged at dawn on Saturday.  

"We think he might be executed by tomorrow as a gift for the Iraqis," he told BBC News 24.

"Maybe early tomorrow morning he might be executed ... we are now talking with them regarding the body itself," he said. "We would like to have his body to return it to the family so they can bury him at any place they wish."

PERSONAL BELONGINGS

If it goes ahead, Maliki, whose authority has been in question as the country slides towards all-out sectarian civil war, would seem to have forced through a decision popular with Shi'ites in the face of resistance from Saddam's fellow Sunnis and from Kurds keen to see Saddam first convicted of genocide against them.

Earlier Saddam's chief defence lawyer, Khalil al-Dulaimi, told Reuters that U.S. officials had transferred Saddam to Iraqi authorities. He said he had been told to arrange to collect Saddam's personal belongings -- a move another defence lawyer said indicated he could die on Saturday.

A U.S. official in Baghdad denied Saddam had been handed over. "He is still in U.S. custody," the official told Reuters.

U.S. troops have hitherto physically kept guard over Saddam and were expected to hold on to him until the last minute to avoid security breaches.

A source in the team that prosecuted Saddam for crimes against humanity said prosecutors, who should have a representative at any execution, had not yet been invited to attend.

Shi'ite politician Bahaa al-Araji said Maliki had asked Shi'ite religious leaders and clerics from Saddam's Sunni Arab minority whether Saddam could be executed immediately. He told Reuters they may approve a hanging before noon (0900 GMT), when the festival formally begins, or say it should be delayed.

[retrokitten]

Sheesh, by then this thread will have degenerated into the FReeper ladies exchanging cornbread recipes...

I have an awesome peanut butter chocolate chip cookie recipe if anyone wants it. ;-)

[awakened]

At this point it is clear that NO one wants us to know anything (so what else is new?).... and I suspect he'll be LONG dead before it's actually confirmed.

[Sacajaweau]

It might be that the Bathists might throw in the towel. But looking good (attacking) while Saddam was alive probably saved a lot of their skins.

[COUNTrecount]

It's past 10PM in Iraq now.He may have only 2 more hours to live.

[Constitution Day]

And the silly, cutesy Canteen graphics!
Can't forget those.

(Hope your Christmas was great!)

[NRA2BFree]

Listen, you harmless lovable fuzzball, that was horrible, and it sure didn't go well with my cinnamon toast. LOL! Where was the custom warning for people like me who are eating brunch? ;o)

[TexKat]

Didn't you hear he is now at Fox!