Saddam Hussein’s death sentence was celebrated by some as justice deserved or even divine, but denounced by others as a political ploy before critical US mid-term congressional elections.

A Palestinian blew himself up outside a packed cafe in northern Israel today, wounding 30 bystanders in what the Islamic Jihad group called “Palestine’s gift to the heroic people of Iraq”.

Saddam Hussein has given out €230,000 to the families of 26 Palestinians killed during 29 months of fighting with Israel, including a €8,500 cheque for the family of a Hamas suicide bomber.

Israel confirms it is prepared for an Iraqi attack that could come as retaliation for any US military action against the Arab state.