BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Saddam Hussein will be hanged before dawn on Saturday in Iraq, before 6 a.m. (10 p.m. Friday ET), according to Appeals Judge Munir Haddad.
The paperwork is in order for Hussein's execution, and the judge echoed a widespread belief that the hanging could be imminent.
At the same time, attorneys in the United States were taking court action to block the execution.
Haddad, a judge on the appeals court that upheld the former dictator's death sentence, and an adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki each confirmed the paperwork preparation late Friday.
"All the procedures have been completed," Haddad said.
Attorney Nicholas Gilman says in an application for a restraining order, filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, that a stay would allow Hussein "to be informed of his rights and take whatever action he can and may wish to pursue."
An appeal of Hussein's execution was denied this week by an Iraqi court.
Haddad called Gilman's filing "rubbish," and said, "It will not delay carrying out the sentence," which he called "final."
The judge also said there is no need for a presidential decree for the implementation of the execution.
He said once the handover is completed, "the sentence will be carried out swiftly, without any delay. God willing."
Haddad, who will be attending the execution, said he received a call from al-Maliki's office asking him and a prosecutor to be ready for it.
Hussein will be hanged along with two others, Barzan Hassan and Awad Bandar. All were convicted of killing 148 Shiite Muslims in the Iraqi town of Dujail nearly 25 years ago.
Haddad wouldn't disclose the location of the execution and said it won't be broadcast live on TV because of human rights issues.
Meanwhile, Giovanni di Stefano, one of Hussein's defense attorneys, told CNN the U.S. military officially informed him that the former Iraqi dictator has been transferred to Iraqi authorities for his execution and that a "credible source" told him Hussein will be executed "very shortly -- in the next couple of hours."
And di Stefano indicated that the move by lawyers in the U.S. court could mean Hussein is in U.S. military custody now.
"The United States may very well have had a cause to effectively take him back in the event" a judge "grants the temporary restraining order, in which case his life would then be spared at least for a period of time or until such further order of the court," he said.
Giving Hussein to the Iraqis despite a temporary restraining order would be contempt of court, di Stefano said.

Hussein execution imminent, sources say - CNN.com

Discuss Away ......

I think that it would be presumptuous in the extreme for any American court or lawyer to think that they carry any special favor in a foreign court. The whole trial has been carried out with a heck of a lot more "civilization", way more attention to his rights than he and his inner circle ever allowed to those he found guilty/punishable by death, and allowances for the loon to speak his piece/defend himself than he would have been allowed under Islamic law, as I understand it (which may be flawed, no doubt). Let's not even mention how hypocritical it would be to "allow the Iraqis to try and sentence him" only to disallow them to carry out whatever sentence they deemed fit.

If Mr. Gilman is dissatisfied with the Iraqi court/legal system, he is welcome to head on over there and tell them just how wrong they all are. I'm sure that the widows and family members of those "criminals" that Saddam found "guilty" will be more than happy to stone him or at the very least, smack the crap out of him with the soles of their shoes. For those who don't know, the soles of the feet are considered unclean, and to show them to someone else is incredibly offensive, let alone hitting someone with the soles of your shoes...

Personally, his rights of any sort ended the day he began to believe that he was above any law, and that his actions carried no consequence. As far as his belief that he will be a martyr, maybe to some delusional extremist, but not to the whole of the Iraqi people, those that lived under his bootheel for so many years.

I do believe, however, that IF he is still in US/Coalition Forces' hands, it is so that he will be handed over to the Iraqis only moments before he swings from the end of a rope. It may also be in order to give the religious authorities time to think it over and decide if he gets a stay of execution until after Eid Al-Adha.

DISCLAIMER: I am not Iraqi-born, nor have I ever been to the country. My understanding of Islamic law in general and of the horrors suffered by the Iraqi people during his regime comes from the survivors and relatives of folks that still live in Iraq that I met last October at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, CA.

ONE LAST THING: World news as it may be, I do think that this one is liable to get heated at best, and out of hand at worst. Let's keep it objective, folks, he and his ultimate fate are not worth our getting all bent over each other's opinions, ok?

I must agree with the fact he is a demon that cared not about others.He is capable of killing any one or any number of people at any moment.He deserves to get executed!!!

To save myself arguements later on with the executions are cruel and inhuman punishments for a government to condone:

If he was to be given life in prison, he's directly responcible for so many people's deaths he would be beaten to death by his fellow inmates in short order anyways - and it'd take longer and be more painful death. Solitary doesn't really exist in most countries, but if he had to spend the rest of his natural life like that to keep him from being killed in prison - meh. Either which way execution seems to be far to nice I'll grant you that, but I'm all for it still in the end.

Also the Iraqi execution system is quite economical - they save money vs keeping him locked up...

I find it hard to fault the decision.

The one good thing I have to say about him: He makes for an interesting note in history (Desert Storm) and a couple fairly decent games (sorta... BF2, and the like) ...

...past that, let 'em swing.

Hanging Saddam is a bad idea. It will lead to an increase of violence in Iraq by Saddam supporters.

He should just rot in prison for the rest of his life.

Quote: Originally Posted by Sleepy_Sentry Hanging Saddam is a bad idea. It will lead to an increase of violence in Iraq by Saddam supporters. He should just rot in prison for the rest of his life.

With his court room behavior, I very much doubt he works as a ralleying point enough for his supporters to become a martyr now. He acted like a child, and all his early supporters in this mess have gone to rallying about ideals, not the man. The increase will most likely be negligable. He ruined that one for himself.

Saddam is dead, Arab Media reports say.

somehow...i think of the wizard of oz when i see this...

"Ding dong the witch is dead."

And really, what DOESNT lead to an increse in violence these days...

Quote: Originally Posted by cyberkid92 And really, what DOESNT lead to an increse in violence these days...

Certainly not the Ice Capades and/or Christmas carols on the radio.

Quote: Originally Posted by TheOutcast Certainly not the Ice Capades and/or Christmas carols on the radio.

If I strapped you into a chair and MADE you watch/listen to them for a whole, oh, I dunno... hour? That would drive me to violence, I guarantee you... LMAO

It only took 5 minutes of 'em (carols) while I was working at a K-Mart or whatever (was working for Pepsi for the holidays) before I started losing it. <.<

It's over! He's dead! Goodbye!!!

Hope he likes the heat.

H-U-N-G

He got what was coming to him for killing all those innocent people that lived under his leadership.

Bad taste? I like to think so, but the bastard had it coming.

They should have tarred and feathered him and paraded him around on national television, then sent the tape to Al-Jazeera, before they hung him.

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I wonder whats going to happen to Osama when they catch him. I had a feeling it was never going to happen, "hang saddam". I thought it'd be too risky. I bet we just made a bunch of more dedicated enemies.

Call me what you want, but I don't think that one person's death should be a celebration no matter how henious the crimes they committed.

Certainly justice was done last night and I fully support the death sentence, especially in this case.

The taking of life is a serious matter, not one to find cause to drink and be merry.

EDIT: I just watched the video and thankfully he died with a little dignity by allowing him to recite some Islamic prayers. Yes, I know that he never afforded the people he murdered the same consideration, but for us to hold true to what we stand for, we have to had afforded him that opportunity. We never sank to his level and for that, I am proud of the Iraqi people in how they handled his execution. Maybe that will prove to be an example of the new era of the Iraqi government.

Quote: Originally Posted by cyberkid92 somehow...i think of the wizard of oz when i see this...

Quote: Originally Posted by cyberkid92 "Ding dong the witch is dead." And really, what DOESNT lead to an increse in violence these days...

Ya, I hear ya, I keep thinking of the song that has the words: "Another one bites the dust..."

Quote: Originally Posted by Rob Call me what you want, but I don't think that one person's death should be a celebration no matter how henious the crimes they committed.

I think you might be saying something different if he (or anyone for that matter) killed your entire family along with friends just because of their religious beliefs. Thats like saying that the jews shouldnÂ’t have been happy after they heard Hitler was dead

O well. He is dead.