Special report: Saddam Hussein's Fate

    SANAA, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni Prime Minister Abdul-Kader Bajammal on Friday wrote to the Iraqi and U.S. presidents, urging them to spare the life of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, the official Yemeni news agency Saba reported.

    In a letter to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Bajammal said Saddam underwent a trial as the foreign troops occupied his country, which undermined Iraq's sovereignty.

    He also urged the Iraqi leader to halt the execution and employ his "wisdom and political prudence to create a climate that helps heal the wounds" in the country.

    Bajammal's letter to U.S. President George W. Bush said the trial on Saddam lacked justice and transparency. Even there was a doubt on the validity of the Iraqi court.

    He said Saddam's execution would "increase the sectarian violence" in Iraq and have negative effects on U.S. image in Arab and Islamic world.

    On Dec. 26, a panel of appeals court judges confirmed Saddam's conviction for crimes against humanity in the killing of Shiite villagers, and ordered that he should be hanged within 30 days.