Iraqi officials showed Saddam's aids execution

BAGHDAD, Jan 15: Iraqi government officials showed journalists film of today's execution of two aides to Saddam Hussein in which they appeared to tremble with fear and his half-brother Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti was beheaded by the noose.

The pair stand side-by-side on what appears to be the same gallows where Saddam was hanged two weeks ago.

Unlike Saddam, they wore orange jumpsuits and were given hoods. When the trap opens, Barzan's head is wrenched from his body and comes to rest in a pool of blood below the gallows while former judge Iwad al-Bander swings on a rope beside him.

Like Saddam, Bander muttered the Muslim declaration of faith ''There is no god but God'' before his death.

Both men appeared frightened on the scaffold. There was no repeat of the sectarian taunting that marred Saddam's execution when it was revealed by illicit mobile phone video footage.

The government officials said they did not intend to release the film to the public.

Reuters