Baghdad: The Iraqi Special Tribunal which tried Saddam Hussein has published the formal judgement rejecting the ex-dictator's appeal against his death sentence  setting in motion the execution process, Arab news media reported yesterday (Dec 28, 2006).

The government in Baghdad now expects that the former Iraqi president can be executed at the earliest in early January

According to Justice Minister Hashim al-Shibli, the judgement must yet be ratified by President Jalal Talabani or by a representative of the president.

The Vatican criticised the decision to uphold the death sentence imposed on Saddam for crimes against humanity, La Repubblica newspaper reported Thursday.

The president of the papal council for justice and peace, Cardinal Renato Martino, told the paper he did not think one crime could be offset with another. He hoped the sentence would not be carried out.

Saddam and six of his former top government aides were found guilty Nov 5 of ordering the killing of 148 Shias in Dujail town in 1982 in retaliation for an attempt on the former ruler's life.

A second trial of Saddam on charges of genocide, related to a 1987-1988 campaign in which tens of thousands of Kurds were killed, continues. The next session is scheduled for Jan 8.

Saddam's defence team had Wednesday evening released an open letter reportedly written by Saddam from his prison cell. A defence lawyer confirmed Thursday that the letter had been written Nov 5, the day of the original court judgement.

In the message the former leader said he was ready to die as a 'sacrifice' for Iraq and said his death would make him a 'true martyr'.

Meanwhile, violence continued in Iraq Thursday with at least 11 people killed and an unconfirmed number wounded by separate bombing attacks in Baghdad, police and news reports said.