Iran welcomes execution of Saddam

Iran today hailed the execution of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein as "enforcer of the most horrendous crimes against humanity", but many Iranians said Saddam should have stood trial for invading Iran and Kuwait before being hanged.

"Saddam, enforcer of the most horrendous crimes against humanity, has been put to death," Iran's state-run television reported.

"With the execution of Saddam, the dossier of one of the world's most criminal dictators was closed," it said.

Saddam was considered Iran's biggest enemy for invading Iran in 1980, a bloody war that lasted eight years and took the lives of more than one million people and left the economic infrastructure in Iraq and Iran almost in ruins.

Iran had asked the court trying Saddam to charge the former leader with crimes from the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, such as his use of chemical weapons against Iranian troops.

In Khorramshahr, a port city on the border with Iraq, people honked car horns, sang and danced in celebration, Iranian media reported. Others passed out sweet drinks to passers-by.

Khorramshahr was occupied by Saddam's troops soon after the Iraqi invasion of Iran in 1980. Iranian forces liberated the city in a decisive battle in May 1982.

In parts of the capital Tehran, residents handed out sweets to passers-by as a sign of celebration for Saddam's death.

"Saddam was a brutal dictator who committed numerous crimes against his own people and his neighbours," said Parvaneh Dousti, a bank clerk, in Tehran. "He brought destruction to Iraq, Iran, Kuwait and the whole Middle East," she said. She was referring to Saddam's invasion of Iran and Iraq.

"Saddam deserved death. I'm so happy that a black era has come to a full end," she said.

Hasan Mohebi, a fruit vendor, said death was too little for Saddam.

"Death was the least punishment for Saddam. He destroyed the lives of millions of people in this region. Saddam will be remembered in history as one of the most hated figures. Today is a day of celebration for all those who suffered from his rule," he said.

Mohebi was selling fruits at half price, a discount to celebrate the hanging of Saddam. He lost a son in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war.

Top politician Alaeddin Boroujerdi said Saddam's trial was too short.

"Saddam's trial was too limited. Still, his execution is a lesson for criminals," he said.

"Saddam was quickly put to death perhaps because Western nations were complicit in many of the crimes Saddam committed. Countries like Germany provided Saddam with chemical weapons technology and the US provoked and supported Saddam's invasion of Iran," he said.

Mohammed Karimi, a taxi driver, said he still didn't believe that Saddam is dead.

"Probably, it was a Saddam double who was executed - not actually him," he said, referring to books published in the past about Saddam having several look-alikes. who would stand in for him.

Sareh Naghavi, a university student, said Saddam's trial should have continued.

"Saddam should have been questioned for all the crimes he committed before being put to death," she said. "He should have been asked to answer why he invaded Iran and Kuwait and why he launched chemical attacks against Iranians and Iraqis."