Regis Philbin
Dec 26th, 2006, 05:21 PM
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6210245.stm
Death sentence for Saddam upheld
Saddam Hussein must be executed within 30 days, Iraqi law says
Iraq's Appeals Court has upheld the death sentence against ousted President Saddam Hussein.
The court rejected an appeal by Saddam Hussein's lawyers and confirmed that he would be hanged, court spokesman Raed Juhi told the BBC.
The appeal was launched after an Iraqi court sentenced Saddam Hussein to death on 5 November for the 1982 killings of 148 Shias in the town Dujail.
Under Iraqi law, Saddam Hussein must be executed within 30 days.
"It cannot exceed 30 days. As from tomorrow [Wednesday] the sentence could be carried out at any time," Appeals Court judge Arif Shaheen told a news conference in Baghdad.
We were not at all surprised, as we are convinced that this has been - 100% - a political trial
He added that there could be no further appeal against the verdict.
The White House called the ruling a milestone in Iraq's efforts "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law".
But India has urged clemency - expressing concern over any delay to the restoration of peace in Iraq - and the EU has called on Iraq not to carry out the death sentence.
Death sentence for Saddam upheld
Saddam Hussein must be executed within 30 days, Iraqi law says
Iraq's Appeals Court has upheld the death sentence against ousted President Saddam Hussein.
The court rejected an appeal by Saddam Hussein's lawyers and confirmed that he would be hanged, court spokesman Raed Juhi told the BBC.
The appeal was launched after an Iraqi court sentenced Saddam Hussein to death on 5 November for the 1982 killings of 148 Shias in the town Dujail.
Under Iraqi law, Saddam Hussein must be executed within 30 days.
"It cannot exceed 30 days. As from tomorrow [Wednesday] the sentence could be carried out at any time," Appeals Court judge Arif Shaheen told a news conference in Baghdad.
We were not at all surprised, as we are convinced that this has been - 100% - a political trial
He added that there could be no further appeal against the verdict.
The White House called the ruling a milestone in Iraq's efforts "to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law".
But India has urged clemency - expressing concern over any delay to the restoration of peace in Iraq - and the EU has called on Iraq not to carry out the death sentence.