BAGHDAD (Reuters) - An Iraqi court sentenced a shaken but defiant Saddam Hussein to hang on Sunday for crimes against humanity, sparking joy for Shi'ites he oppressed and resentment among his fellow Sunnis across Iraq's violent sectarian divide.
As mortar rounds crashed on warring Baghdad neighbourhoods and police reported sporadic clashes despite a curfew on the capital, Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called for unity after the ousted leader was handed "the punishment he deserves".
U.S. President George W. Bush, whose forces set up the court three years ago, called it "a milestone in the Iraqi people's effort to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law".
U.S. officials dismissed charges the verdict was timed to aid Bush's Republicans at elections on Tuesday that have been dominated by mounting dismay at the bloodshed in Iraq.
Defence lawyers, saying they saw little hope from an appeal in the coming months, dismissed it as "victor's justice".
The curfew in Baghdad and other flashpoint areas would go on through Monday on fears of violence, a government source said.
Saddam, 69, initially refused to stand when brought in to hear the verdict from Kurdish chief judge Raouf Abdul Rahman, at a quickfire, 45-minute hearing. When he did, shakily, with clear emotion, he yelled the defiant Arab battle cry "Allahu Akbar!" (God is Greatest) and "Long live Iraq" as the judgment was read
We can't kill this guy in war but yet able to hang this guy after tons and tons of trial. If we really do hang him, what is the real difference between us and him?visit GPD Autostore @ www.gpd.com.my
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