Saddam death sentence is final, says presidency

An appeals court decision upholding Saddam Hussein’s death sentence is final and does not require the approval of Iraqi president Jalal Talabani, a presidential spokesman said today.

The development removed Saddam’s last legal means of avoiding execution.

“The president’s approval is not needed,” said Hiwa Osman, Talabani’s media adviser. “The court's decision is final.”

Iraqi officials had said prior to the appeals court ruling yesterday that any decision to impose the death penalty must be ratified by Talabani and Iraq’s two vice presidents.

However, it appeared that lawyers concluded an Iraqi High Tribunal provision mandating imposition of the death penalty could take precedence over a law in the constitution that requires the president to approve death sentences.

“There will be no need for the president to sign any documents,” Osman said. “Basically, it is out of the president’s hands.”

He said the presidency respected the decision of the appeals court, which yesterday rejected Saddam’s appeal and said the former dictator must be hanged within 30 days for ordering the killing of scores of Shiite Muslims in 1982.