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Iraq investigates Saddam footage Iraq investigates Saddam footage
(40 minutes later)
The Iraqi government has launched an inquiry into unofficial mobile phone footage showing the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.The Iraqi government has launched an inquiry into unofficial mobile phone footage showing the execution of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Footage of his final moments showed he exchanged taunts and insults with witnesses at his hanging on Saturday. The mobile phone footage showed he exchanged taunts and insults with witnesses at his hanging on Saturday.
Mobile phone footage showed the former leader being told to "go to hell" by someone attending the hanging. The grainy video showed the former leader being told to "go to hell" by someone attending the hanging.
UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said the circumstances of the execution were "deplorable".UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott said the circumstances of the execution were "deplorable".
The authorities fear the secret footage could contribute to a dramatic rise in sectarian tensions between Iraq's Sunni and Shia communities. Do you consider this bravery? Saddam Hussein, on new video href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6220829.stm" class="">Video shows execution taunts href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6221751.stm" class="">John Simpson analysis
The Iraqi authorities fear the footage, released on the internet hours after the execution, could contribute to a dramatic rise in sectarian tensions between Iraq's Sunni and Shia communities.
"There were a few guards who shouted slogans that were inappropriate and that's now the subject of a government investigation," an adviser to Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, Sami al-Askari, told Reuters news agency."There were a few guards who shouted slogans that were inappropriate and that's now the subject of a government investigation," an adviser to Prime Minister Nouri Maliki, Sami al-Askari, told Reuters news agency.
Grainy footage Chants and insults
Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim, was sentenced to death by an Iraqi court on 5 November over the killings of 148 Shias from the town of Dujail in the 1980s.Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Muslim, was sentenced to death by an Iraqi court on 5 November over the killings of 148 Shias from the town of Dujail in the 1980s.
He was executed before dawn on Saturday in Baghdad and buried near his hometown of Tikrit a day later.He was executed before dawn on Saturday in Baghdad and buried near his hometown of Tikrit a day later.
I think whoever was involved and responsible for it should be ashamed of themselves UK Deputy PM John Prescott Death scenes 'deplorable' href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6220829.stm" class="">Video shows execution taunts I think whoever was involved and responsible for it should be ashamed of themselves John Prescott Death scenes 'deplorable'
The Iraq authorities released official footage of the execution, to prove to the public that Saddam Hussein was dead. But that film did not include any sound and did not show the actual moment of death. The Iraq authorities released official footage of the execution, to prove to the public that Saddam Hussein was dead.
The grainy mobile phone footage that emerged hours later was shot from below the gallows and shows the moment that the gallows trapdoor opens. But that film did not include any sound and did not show the actual moment of death.
The grainy mobile phone footage that emerged hours later was shot from below the gallows.
As Saddam Hussein is led towards the trapdoor, one of the unseen observers shouts "go to hell".
Others can be heard chanting the name of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr and of Muhammad Sadiq Sadr, his father who was murdered by Saddam Hussein's agents.
In response Saddam Hussein is sarcastic, asking "do you consider this bravery?"
'Unacceptable'
In a BBC interview, John Prescott called it "deplorable" and "totally unacceptable" that video clips of the execution had surfaced on the internet.In a BBC interview, John Prescott called it "deplorable" and "totally unacceptable" that video clips of the execution had surfaced on the internet.
Mr Prescott is in charge while Prime Minister Tony Blair is on holiday.Mr Prescott is in charge while Prime Minister Tony Blair is on holiday.
"I think the manner was quite deplorable really," he said. "I don't think one can endorse in any way that, whatever your views about capital punishment."I think the manner was quite deplorable really," he said. "I don't think one can endorse in any way that, whatever your views about capital punishment.
"Frankly, to get the kind of recorded messages coming out is totally unacceptable, and I think whoever was involved and responsible for it should be ashamed of themselves.""Frankly, to get the kind of recorded messages coming out is totally unacceptable, and I think whoever was involved and responsible for it should be ashamed of themselves."