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Iraq investigates Saddam footage Iraq investigates Saddam footage
(about 1 hour 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.
The mobile phone footage 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.
The grainy video 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 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.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.
Do you consider this bravery? Saddam Hussein, on new video Video shows execution taunts John Simpson analysisDo you consider this bravery? Saddam Hussein, on new video Video shows execution taunts John Simpson analysis
"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.
Munqith al-Faroon, one of the prosecutors in the Saddam Hussein trial, told the Associated Press that he knew "two top officials...had their mobile phones with them (at the execution). There were no mobile phones allowed at that time."
The BBC's Peter Greste, in Baghdad, says Iraq's government is desperate to clear the air, having hoped that the execution would signal the start of the reconciliation process between the Sunni and Shia communities.The BBC's Peter Greste, in Baghdad, says Iraq's government is desperate to clear the air, having hoped that the execution would signal the start of the reconciliation process between the Sunni and Shia communities.
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.
I think whoever was involved and responsible for it should be ashamed of themselves John Prescott Today interview Death scenes 'deplorable' 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 John Prescott Today interview Death scenes 'deplorable' He was executed before dawn on Saturday in Baghdad and buried near his hometown of Tikrit a day later.
The daily cycle of violence in Iraq has continued since the execution.The daily cycle of violence in Iraq has continued since the execution.
In the latest developments:In the latest developments:
  • A US marine killed an Iraqi soldier in an apparent fight at security post in the western town of Fallujah
  • A US marine killed an Iraqi soldier in an apparent fight at security post in the western town of Fallujah
  • Gunmen shot and killed a provincial politician and three others travelling with him in Diyala province, officials said
  • Gunmen shot and killed a provincial politician and three others travelling with him in Diyala province, officials said
  • US forces killed a suspected al-Qaeda weapons dealer and two others in Baghdad on Tuesday, the military said
  • US forces killed a suspected al-Qaeda weapons dealer and two others in Baghdad on Tuesday, the military said
  • Three people died and seven others were wounded when a bomb hidden in a pile of rubbish exploded in a mixed Sunni-Shia area of Baghdad.
  • Three people died and seven others were wounded when a bomb hidden in a pile of rubbish exploded in a mixed Sunni-Shia area of Baghdad.
    • Chants and insultsChants and insults
    The Iraq authorities released official footage of Saddam Hussein's execution, to prove to the public that he was really dead.The Iraq authorities released official footage of Saddam Hussein's execution, to prove to the public that he was really dead.
    But that film did not include any sound and did not show the actual moment of death.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.The grainy mobile phone footage that emerged hours later was shot from below the gallows.
    HAVE YOUR SAY I lived through the bloody war that Saddam started with Iran. But still I am not happy with Saddam's execution Alireza Pahlavani, Tehran Send us your comments As Saddam Hussein is led towards the trapdoor, one of the unseen observers shouts "go to hell".HAVE YOUR SAY I lived through the bloody war that Saddam started with Iran. But still I am not happy with Saddam's execution Alireza Pahlavani, Tehran Send us your comments 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.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?"In response Saddam Hussein is sarcastic, asking "do you consider this bravery?"
    'Unacceptable''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."