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. The former Iraqi president ousted in April 2003 by a U.S.- led invasion was convicted in November of crimes against humanity over the killings of 148 Shi'ite villagers from Dujail after a failed assassination bid in 1982. An appeals court upheld the death penalty on Tuesday. Iraq's government has kept details of its plans to conduct the execution completely secret amid concerns it could spark a violent backlash from his former supporters.

Do you think it will be real excecute or just saying that he has been excecuted ?

He's gone, and they have it on tape. It will be all over the news ALL DAY.

Mel,

He's dead, He was hanged just a few minutes ago. NBC news did a special report.

Yeah, CNN is reporting it now as well.

Though I don't generally agree with the death penalty, in this case I don't have a problem with it.

He held power by dealing fear and death, and surely knew he would likely meet his own end that way too.

yep he's dead.........gone.........done.......kaput....no more.......the video will be release on cnn shortly.

No more Saddam!

George should be next!

Where is Amnesty International when you need them?

Well, ending his life doesn't mean anything... I'm not fan of Sadaam.. my friend was killed on his last mission a few days ago....but who sent my friend (s) there..???

According to Buddhism, he will deserve his Karma in one way or another. I just wish that during his punishment, he realized why he's being punished..

I don't believe in ppl judging another ppl.. sure he's evil.. but he would get what he gave...

i reckon you would probably find that he has had his head shaved, shaved his beard, had some surgery and is now sitting on a beach somewhere in Cuba!!

Cynical?? yeah! Probably!

Another day longer and he probably would have died of old age! Lady Justice must be swift and sure.... Kill that fucker again...

After the Show process , the show war , now the the show kill from a 69 y.o. man by hanging . For what ?Why not let him hard work each day ? Now the iraques have a HERO for EVER ! And the hanging method ? In 2006 ?? I think Mr Bush bring the World to BURN !!!

.from farmersboy to one of the most feared dictators...

.more significantly is finally the end of dictatorship...

.nevermind war...nevermind peace...nevermind death...nevermind life...nevermind...mai pen rai

Fostering democracy by hanging former dictator seems a little odd to me besides I am still puzzled trying to understand the idea of a completely secret execution broadcasted over CNN ?!??!

1down 3 million just like him to go.

I have seen a lot of dictators in my time and there will be many more.Especially countries that have oil will feel the brunt of a certain section of the world support one minute and have their cronies execute the next,pity they didn't look at Zimmbawee Next,wonder why they don't execute their leader.

Let them leaders that are ruled by others with money dictate to Korea! Let them take on Iran! its all bullshit every where these money orientated people go they send not theirs but other young men home in coffins.

Sadam did nothing that the rulers of Iraq now won't do to their own people.Lets all our Western Countries get out of other countries that don't effect us.

Before they went into Iraq fuel was 78cents a litre in Australia now its $1-18 a litre. I wonder whos responsible for that.Sadams death won't change what others have done either.

Well said BJ , but it seems the only way that OCCUPIED IRAQ will be free is when WE the people execute our leaders at the elections and oust the 3 STOOGES ( BUSH, BLAIR and HOWARD )

Killing is not the way to deal with this but guess they just cant find any other way to do with Saddam..

Even he's not a loveable one but it will be too much to broadcast that moment to the world.

Hanging is according to their religious beliefs. That's what I was told. Well, CNN & BBC benefit from that piece of news for sure...

I agree to PiAnt to BJ... Greed, Wars benefit someone from having bodies piled up under their feet....

I pray for those who are innocent!!!

1 Down.. doesn't mean NO MORE!!!

What about ONE who still dictates his people to die in the war under the name of PEACE keeper????

I'm blessed to be born as Thai, on the land of my King.

One Arab man I work with told me it is a huge honour to die on this day, I think possibly because its the first day of the Eid holiday and Hajj is currently in full flow but Im not 100% if that was his reason...........is this possibly why Saddams execution was rushed through, and if so, who chose the date?

it should have been slow and painful..... over months of time

Another dictator dies. The problem is that his country, Iraq, is in a state of lawlessness and in a seeming hopeless state. I'm sure after more bloodshed and tears the Iraqis will pull their country together and hopefully it will be in a better shape than in the Saddam era. The Iraqis should not rely on the foreign forces occupying their land to be their solution though

In his last minute , a brave man . The hanging method is not the fastest dead and i think he know this . So R.I.P.

Now some People have a hero , and can every year visit the grave .