BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S.-backed Iraqi television station Al Hurra said Saddam Hussein had been executed by hanging shortly before 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Saturday.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Some Arab media, including Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya and the U.S.-financed Al-Hurra, reported about an hour before daylight Saturday (about 10 p.m. EST Friday) that Saddam had been executed. State-run Iraqiya television cited reports of Saddam's hanging, but like the other television stations did not provide sources.

There was no confirmation from the Iraqi government.

A U.S. judge on Friday refused to stop Saddam's execution, rejecting a last-minute court challenge.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - The official witnesses to Saddam Hussein's impending execution gathered Friday in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone in final preparation for his hanging, as state television broadcast footage of his regime's atrocities.

With U.S. forces on high alert for a surge in violence, the Iraqi government readied all the necessary documents, including a "red card" - an execution order introduced during Saddam's dictatorship. As the hour of his death approached, Saddam received two of his half brothers in his cell on Thursday and was said to have given them his personal belongings and a copy of his will.

...

"Saddam will be handed over shortly before the execution," the official said. The physical transfer of Saddam from U.S. to Iraqi authorities was believed to be one of the last steps before he was to be hanged. Saddam has been in U.S. custody since he was captured in December 2003.

Al-Nueimi said U.S. authorities were maintaining physical custody of Saddam to prevent him from being humiliated before his execution. He said the Americans also want to prevent the mutilation of his corpse, as has happened to other deposed Iraqi leaders.

"The Americans want him to be hanged respectfully," al-Nueimi said. If Saddam is humiliated publicly or his corpse ill-treated "that could cause an uprising and the Americans would be blamed," he said.

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ORIGINAL: kaleighj

As joyous as this may be, Master reminds me to state, we all need to stop and say an extra prayer for our men and women on the ground in a country that may erupt like a volcano because of this moment in history....

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ORIGINAL: WyrdRich

      A very bad man has recieved justice and I just might stay up until I find a pic of his body before I get a good night's sleep.  I know a few guys who were over there who'd like to have it in their e-mail.

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ORIGINAL: juliaoceania

FR

I know some people will dance for joy at the idea of this individual dying, but from what I hear this only means more bloodshed in Iraq, and for that I am deeply saddened. It was unnecessary to execute him, and will most likely only martyr him.

It just does not make me joyful, but then I am not the type to get joy from such things.

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ORIGINAL: justheather

I heard on NPR that it was believed that the execution would be immient. I did not know until I read this thread that it had happened.
I see no reason for celebration.
An act of violence against a man who committed acts of violence does not impress, thrill, placate, excite or appease me.
It is a sad, sad commentary.
I do not believe that anything was accomplished by this execution.
If he had been foreced to spend the rest of his life serving the cause of those he oppressed, perhaps they would have felt some degree of vindication and this human being would have been offered a potential path to redemption.
Instead, we enact violence as payment for violence.
I just dont get it.

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ORIGINAL: cyberdude611
And they decided they wanted to execute him.