Many Kurds will be disappointed that Saddam will not now be convicted of genocide against them in a trial yet to finish, but the rapid execution was a triumph for Maliki, whose grip on his fragile national unity coalition has been questioned.

After complaints of political interference in the trial, however, the speed of the execution may fuel further unease about the fairness of the U.S.-sponsored process.

Saddam became president in 1979, and the next year led his country into an eight-year war against Iran that cost hundreds of thousands of lives. In 1990 he invaded Kuwait, but U.S.-led forces drove the Iraqis out in 1991.

Saddam’s half-brother Barzan al-Tikriti and former judge Awad al-Bander are to be hanged in January.

Saddam’s daughter Raghd, in exile in Jordan, wants her father buried in Yemen, a source close to the family said.

The governor from Saddam’s home town of Tikrit said his tribe was negotiating with the government to have the body interred in the village of Awja, where Saddam’s sons were buried in 2003, rather than in Baghdad as the government wanted.

He added that Bush went to bed before the execution and was not woken up after it was carried out.

Defense lawyer Najib Naimi said that US military officials asked him Friday morning to send someone to pick up the former president’s personal effects, such as clothing, books — including a Quran — and a manuscript Saddam had been writing.

“He was writing his biography,’’ Naimi said. “But I don’t think he had a chance to complete it.’’

... contd.