A VIEW TO A KILL ON U.S.-MADE GALLOWS
By NILES LATHEM
December 27, 2006 -- WASHINGTON - A bit of good old American craftsmanship will bring about Saddam Hussein's end - a specially constructed gallows that might as well be stamped "Made in the U.S.A."
The custom-made gallows for Saddam is located in a highly secure U.S. military prison at Baghdad airport called Camp Cropper, where the former Iraqi dictator is currently imprisoned.
One morning, sometime between today and 30 days from now, Saddam will be awakened by his American guards and told it's judgment day.
There will be no prior public notification of Saddam's date with the executioner.
Shortly after he is hanged, an announcement will be made to the world that the brutal killer is dead.
Like other Iraqi death-row prisoners, Saddam will be dressed in an orange uniform, and a hood will be placed over his head before his execution. He will be allowed prayers, and a last meal, according to U.S. officials. Then the ex-tyrant will be taken to the American-made gallows, where a handful of Iraqi government officials, U.S. military officers and human-rights officials will be witnesses.
Also likely to be present are some relatives of the victims of the 1982 Dujail massacre, for which Saddam and two henchmen were convicted on Nov 5.
No decisions have been made on who will be the hangman, officials said last night.
Saddam will not be permitted to make a final speech, an American lawyer who advised the special tribunal that tried him told The Post.
Only a still photograph will mark the occasion of the death of the dictator.
"There's a very good chance that this will all come very quickly - that we will wake up in the next day or two and find out Saddam has already been executed and we will see nothing but a photograph marking the end of Saddam," said Michael Scharf, a professor at Case Western University in Cleveland who advised the tribunal.
niles.lathem@nypost.com
Saddam Hussein is reported by BBC to be already executed, at around 6:05 Baghdad time today.

10:22PM EST, CBS broke into Friday night coverage to report Saddam was executed.

As of 10:00PM EST, the nation of Iraq was awaiting word of Saddam's execution. 

The custody of Saddam Hussein has been turned over to the Iraqi government and a judge, who is to be present during the execution of the former Iraqi dictator, says that the execution will take place no later than Saturday.

One of Nouri al-Maliki's advisers has stated that the execution will be carried out by 6 a.m. on Saturday (10 p.m. Friday EST).

"A few minutes ago we received correspondence from the Americans saying that President Saddam Hussein is no longer under the control of United States forces," said a statement by Hussein's lawyers.

At least one judge has stated that the execution could take place as early as "today."

"Saddam will be executed today or tomorrow. All the measures have been done," said Munir Haddad, an appeal's court judge who upheld the vedict to have Hussein executed. Mr. Haddad is expected to be present during Hussein's execution.

"I am ready to attend and there is no reason for delay," added Haddad.

Not everyone agrees that Hussein should be executed. The Prime Minister of Yemen is trying to urge U.S. President George W. Bush to stop the execution from taking place.

"The Yemeni government urges Bush to intercede to prevent this sentence from being carried out ... as it would lead to more internal strife and suffering for the Iraqi people," said a letter to Bush from Yemeni P.M., Abdul-Qader Bagammal.

He is expected to be hanged on a custom-made gallows that has been kept in Camp Cropper, a U.S. military prison at Baghdad airport where Hussein has been imprisoned.