BAGHDAD, Iraq — Saddam Hussein was executed Saturday morning (Iraqi time) for the 1982 murders of 148 people in the town of Dujail, various media outlets reported.
In an alert, state-run television station Iraqiya said, “Criminal Saddam was hanged to death.”
In the hours leading up to his execution, Saddam turned to American courts in an effort to delay his death. However, a federal judge declined to postpone his execution.
Saddam ruled Iraq for a quarter century, and he is suspected of killing thousands during his tenure. Had he not been executed, he would have faced trials for other mass killings.
Two others sentenced to death were to be hanged alongside Saddam. According to at least one news report, the two were going to be executed late in the day Saturday.