Butcher Of Baghdad Saddam Executed By Hanging

Saddam Hussein, who ruled by putting fear in the people of Iraq and led his them into three devastating wars while pursuing his goal of dominating the Arab world, was executed by hanging at 10pm U.S. eastern time.

Earlier Khalil al- Dulaimi, Saddam's defence lawyer, 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," he said.

Najib al-Nuaimi, another defence lawyer, had earlier told Al Jazeera that he believed that the toppled president would be executed on Saturday.

Reuters quoting a key court official in Baghdad said Iraq's government had told him to be ready to attend the hanging of Saddam Hussein between 5.30am and 6am on Saturday.