Germany sees risk of Saddam becoming martyr

BERLIN, Jan 6 (Reuters) Saddam Hussein could become a martyr for his supporters because of the controversial circumstances surrounding his hanging, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said in a newspaper interview.

A clandestine video showing images of Shi'ite officials taunting Saddam on the gallows has fuelled outrage among Sunni Arabs and increased sectarian tensions in Iraq.

''There is definitely a risk that this execution, which took place on an Islamic holiday and has been the subject of widespread media coverage, helps turn Saddam Hussein into a martyr for his followers,'' Steinmeier told German weekly Bild am Sonntag in an interview.

''The many visits to his grave are first indications of this,'' he added, noting that it was unclear whether the execution would increase the level of violence in Iraq.

Excerpts of the interview were provided to Reuters prior to publication tomorrow.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said yesterday the execution was a ''domestic affair'' and warned countries which have criticised the hanging that his government could review relations with them.

On Thursday, at a White-House news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, US President George W Bush said the execution could have been carried out in a ''more dignified way'' but defended the judicial process that led to the hanging.

Thousands of Sunni Arabs marched this week to vent anger at the execution and mourners have flocked to visit Saddam's grave in his home village of Awja.

REUTERS AB VV1723