Iraq prepares for Saddam’s execution

Iraq and Washington prepared for the imminent execution of Saddam Hussein on Friday, amid conflicting signals about when the death penalty imposed on him for the murder of scores of Shia villagers in the 1980s would be carried out.

"Nothing and nobody can abrogate the ruling," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said, in comments released by his office on Friday. "Our respect for human rights requires us to execute him, and there will be no review or delay in carrying out the sentence."

Iraqi officials have said that Mr Hussein will be transferred to their custody the day of his hanging, and as of midday Friday that had not happened.

US officials said on Thursday, based on information from Baghdad, that the former dictator could be hanged as early as this weekend. Most interpretations of Iraqi statutes require that the death penalty be carried out within 30 days of the exhaustion of his appeals, which happened on Tuesday.

However, Raed Juhi, a spokesman for the special tribunal which convicted Mr Hussein, was quoted by wire services as saying that the 30 day limit applies only if Iraq’s president Jalal Talabani signed the death warrant. Otherwise, the execution would be held after that period, he said.

Mr Talabani opposes the death penalty, although he may allow one of his deputies to sign the warrant instead.