BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi authorities reported the arrests Wednesday of two guards and an official who supervised Saddam Hussein's hanging and said the guard force was infiltrated by outsiders who taunted the former leader and shot the video showing his body dangling at the end of a rope.
The unauthorized video, which ignited protests by Saddam's fellow Sunni Arabs in various Iraqi cities, threatens to turn the ousted dictator into a martyr. Saddam was shown never bowing his head as he faced death, and asking the hecklers if they were acting in a manly way.
The Bush administration sent conflicting signals Wednesday about the taunting and baiting that accompanied the execution, with the White House declining to join criticism of the procedure and the State Department and U.S. military publicly raising questions about it.
The investigation will continue
The unauthorized video, which ignited protests by Saddam's fellow Sunni Arabs in various Iraqi cities, threatens to turn the ousted dictator into a martyr. Saddam was shown never bowing his head as he faced death, and asking the hecklers if they were acting in a manly way.
The Bush administration sent conflicting signals Wednesday about the taunting and baiting that accompanied the execution, with the White House declining to join criticism of the procedure and the State Department and U.S. military publicly raising questions about it.
The investigation will continue
The investigation will be conducted by a committee of the interior ministry, Sami al-Askari, an advisor to al-Maliki, told the Associated Press
The video, believed to be filmed on a witness's cellphone during Saturday's execution, was circulated widely on the internet and was broadcast by Al-Jazeera television.
On it, witnesses can be heard shouting insults at Saddam moments before the gallows trap door opens and the deposed Iraqi leader plummets to his death.
Many witnesses chant slogans from radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, a major backer of al-Maliki.
Saddam is heard shouting angry retorts at those insulting him.
The video, though grainy, is graphic. Saddam can be seen swinging by his neck, his eyes open and his neck twisted to the right.
The video, believed to be filmed on a witness's cellphone during Saturday's execution, was circulated widely on the internet and was broadcast by Al-Jazeera television.
On it, witnesses can be heard shouting insults at Saddam moments before the gallows trap door opens and the deposed Iraqi leader plummets to his death.
Many witnesses chant slogans from radical Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, a major backer of al-Maliki.
Saddam is heard shouting angry retorts at those insulting him.
The video, though grainy, is graphic. Saddam can be seen swinging by his neck, his eyes open and his neck twisted to the right.
Full Saddam Execution Video
podcast
To Much Bandwidth Crashed the first link 5 am this morning I rehosted saddam video as long as it lasts anwarweb.net link was dead this a.m.
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