Saddam still in US custody - US official

WASHINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who is facing execution, remains in US custody, State Department spokesman Tom Casey said.

''My understanding is that there's been no change in his status,'' Casey said yesterday.

An appeals court on Tuesday upheld Saddam's Nov. 5 death sentence for crimes against humanity for the killings, torture and other crimes against the Shi'ite population of the town of Dujail.

US and Iraqi officials have given conflicting reports of when he will be hanged and it was unclear if Saddam had been handed over to Iraqi authorities to be executed.

The White House declined to comment on the timing.

''That is a matter for the Iraqi people, we are observers to that process. They are a sovereign government and they will make their own decisions regarding carrying out justice,'' spokesman Scott Stanzel said in Crawford, Texas.

Reuters SBA VP0432