Two Co-defendants of Saddam Hussein to be hanged

Source: CCTV.com | 01-04-2007 13:14

Two co-defendants sentenced to death alongside Saddam Hussein, are to be killed on Thursday. Preparations are underway for the executions, though the place and exact times haven't been released.

Saddam's half brother and former intelligence chief Barzan Ibrahim, along with Awad Hamed al-Bandar, the former chief justice of the Revolutionary Court, are the next to be hanged.

Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar were both convicted and sentenced to death on November fifth, alongside Saddam. The verdict against them was later upheld by the appellate court on 26 December.

In Baghdad, some residents welcomed the news.

Fadil Al-Waili, Baghdad resident, said, "They are tyrants, they harmed people. Each terrorist and criminal should be executed. We call upon the government to execute every one who is harming people."

A US Army spokesperson would not give any further details during a press conference in Baghdad on Wednesday.

Maj. Gen. William Caldwell, US military spokesman, said, "I know the discussions are ongoing but I really should let them announce when they are going to do those, rather than us. Because again that is going to be their decision not ours, so I would really rather let the government of Iraq answer that one."

An Iraqi official said final arrangements still needed to be made with the US military, since American soldiers are expected to transport the two men from prison to the execution site.

Editor:Du Xiaodan