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BAGHDAD, Nov 5, 2006 (AFP) - Ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and two of his senior allies were sentenced to death by hanging on Sunday after an Iraqi court found them guilty of crimes against humanity.
Judge Rauf Rasheed Abdel Rahman ordered bailiffs at the Iraqi High Tribunal to force Saddam to stand before the court as, visibly trembling, the former strongman attempted to shout down the verdict.
"Make him stand," barked Rahman, as Saddam begged the guards: "Don't bend my arms. Don't bend my arms."
Nevertheless, a court official held Saddam's hands behind his back as Rahman, shouting to be heard over the defendant's protests, declared: "The highest penalty should be implemented."
Saddam was sentenced to death for his role in ordering the deaths of 148 Shiite villagers in the village of Dujail, north of Baghdad.
As he was led away, his arms still pinioned, he declared: "Long live Iraq. Long live the Iraqi people. God is greater than the occupier."
Saddam's half-brother and intelligence chief Barzan al-Tikriti was also sentenced to death, as was Awad Ahmed al-Bandar, who was convicted as the president of the kangaroo court which ordered the Shiites executed.
The former vice president Taha Yassin Ramadan received a life sentence, while three Baath party officials from Dujail received 15 years each and a fourth, more junior figure, was cleared
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