Iraqi govt silent on conduct of Saddam hanging

BAGHDAD, Dec 27 (Reuters) Former president Saddam Hussein faced hanging within 30 days on Wednesday, but Iraq's government maintained silence about the conduct of the execution, seeking to contain political tensions his death might unleash.

Speculation on the streets ranged from a swift execution within days, conducted in secret and announced only after the fact, to a public execution broadcast on television -- though few believed the latter was likely.

The Iraqi High Tribunal appeals court yesterday upheld Saddam's death sentence imposed for crimes against humanity during his 24-year rule.

''Our job is done and now it is in the hand of the executive authority. They (the government) have the right to choose the date starting from tomorrow up to 30 days,'' the head of the court, Aref Abdul-Razzaq al-Shahin, said yesterday.

But the government refused repeated requests for comment and declined to give any indication on when and how it was going to execute Saddam, overthrown by a US-led invasion in 2003.

An Iraqi Web site published today a farewell letter from Saddam in which he urged Iraqis to preserve unity and be a model for ''coexistence, tolerance and forgiveness,'' saying he was ready to sacrifice himself for Iraq.

Saddam's lawyer said the letter was written in November after the lower court issued the death sentence against him.

''I offer myself as a sacrifice... Oh great people of Iraq, I call on you to preserve the values that enabled you to be worthy of carrying out the faith and to be the light of civilisation ...,'' said the letter dated December. 26.

Political professor Hazim al-Naimi said he expected the government would keep quiet for a while over Saddam's execution and that it wanted to dampen down media coverage to avoid damaging efforts to encourage national reconciliation.

''They have had reconciliation conferences and there are others lined up for the coming months so they are playing a clever game by not commenting and letting it cool down,'' Naimi told Reuters.

OUT OF PRESIDENT'S HANDS Washington and the Iraqi government have accused former members of the once ruling Baath party of funding and supporting Sunni Arab-led insurgency. But now the government is trying to bring in former members of Saddam's Baath party as part of efforts to isolate Sunni Arab insurgent groups like al-Qaeda.

''The reconciliation is very important for the government and for the Americans now as part of efforts trying to solve the problems in Iraq,'' Naimi said.

Shahin said nobody could reduce or overturn the sentence.

''No side could reduce or exempt the sentence, not even the president himself,'' he said.

President Jalal Talabani has said repeatedly he would never sign a death sentence including Saddam's. According to the constitution, he can delegate one of his deputies to sign.

There have been a number of executions in Iraq in recent months.

Saddam is still on trial with six others for genocide against ethnic Kurds in northern Iraq in the 1980s. Shahin said the trial would continue without Saddam if he is executed.

Saddam is scheduled to appear in court again on January. 8.

Human rights group Amnesty International said the Appeal Court ruling came at the end of a flawed trial that had lacked independence from political interference.

''Amnesty International is very disappointed about this decision,'' a spokeswoman for the human rights organisation said.

''We are against the death penalty as a matter of principle but particularly in this case because it comes after a flawed trial.'' The nine-judge appellate court also upheld death sentences against Saddam's half-brother, Barzan al-Tikriti, and former judge Awad al-Bander, for their part in the incident.

The court recommended toughening the sentence on former Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan, who had been sentenced to life in prison over Dujail, saying he should also be executed.

REUTERS PB RK1830