Special Report: World reactions on execution of Saddam

Special Report: Execution of Saddam

Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

A frame grab from Biladi shows former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's body after his execution in Baghdad Dec. 30, 2006. Hussein was hanged for crimes against humanity at dawn on Saturday, a dramatic, violent end for a leader who ruled Iraq by fear for three decades before he was toppled by a U.S. invasion four years ago.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

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    WASHINGTON, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The United States dismissed on Wednesday the criticism over the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and insisted Saddam got justice.

    "I think the most important thing to realize is that Saddam Hussein was executed after a long trial -- a long and public trial, that met international standards, an appeal that met international standards," White House spokesman Tony Snow said at a briefing.

    Snow admitted that there seemed to be "a lot of concern" about the last two minutes of Saddam Hussein's life, but he insisted that Saddam murdered "hundreds of thousands of people" and "that's why he was executed."

    Snow noted that a U.S. general in Baghdad had said U.S. forces "would have done it differently" and that Iraq's government had expressed "some qualms" about the events before the execution.

    "The (Iraqi) government is investigating the conduct of some people within the chamber. And I think we'll leave it at that," Snow said.

    In a video taken before Saddam's execution, one of those present mocked Saddam and chanted "Moqtada! Moqtada! Moqtada!", a reference to one of Saddam's fiercest foes, Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. The video has stirred anger among the Sunnis in Iraq as well as fears of more violence in the country.

    The United States launched the Iraq war and toppled the Saddam Hussein regime in 2003 on the grounds that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction and ties with al-Qaeda terror network. However, none of these has been proved existent.

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Footage of Saddam execution sparks anger among Iraqis

    BAGHDAD, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- Thousands of people pour into former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit from Tuesday morning as unofficial footage of his hanging sparked anger among Iraqis, mostly Sunnis.

Iraqi gov't launches probe into unofficial footage of Saddam execution

    BAGHDAD, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi government ordered an inquiry about an unofficial footage of the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, an official close to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Tuesday.