Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was executed by hanging shortly before 6 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Saturday, U.S.-backed Iraqi TV Al Hurra reported.

"The execution of Saddam Hussein is complete," Iraq state run Iraqiya television said.

But so far, there has been no confirmation from the Iraqi government.

On Wednesday, Saddam Hussein's Baath Party threatened to retaliate if the former president was executed.

Saddam, born on April 28, 1937, was deposed by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. He had been held at a U.S. camp near Baghdad international airport before being handed over to the Iraqi authorities for Saturday's execution.

On Nov. 5, a panel of five Iraqi judges sentenced Saddam, his half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and Iraq's former chief judge Awad Hamed al-Bandar to death by hanging for killing of 148 people in Dujail, some 60 km north of Baghdad.

On Dec. 3, the defense lawyers of Saddam officially appealed to the higher court against the death penalty imposed on Saddam and another two codefendants.

However, the Iraqi appellate court chief announced on Tuesday that the court had upheld the death sentence for Saddam Hussein.

Arabiya says Saddam's half-brother, ex-judge executed  

Arabic satellite channel Arabiya said Saddam Hussein's half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and former judge Awad al-Bander were also executed by hanging on Saturday.
 
Editor: Donald