Prior to the Cabinet meeting the elderly statesman said that after Hitler, the end of Saddam Hussein was also expected as he was a threat to the Middle East and the entire world.

"He was a dictator who was responsible for three wars, the assassination of hundreds of thousands and for the death of millions more," Peres said.

So far Israel, which was attacked by Saddam in 1991 Gulf War with 39 Scud missiles, had kept mum on the execution officially.

Arab legislators in the Israeli Knesset though called the move 'inappropriate.'

 "If he did improper things and he's carrying a can of worms on his back, I think human society shouldn't use the same methods as legitimate against him," legislator Muhammad Barakei told the Army Radio today.

"From every side, this is a view that has no place," Brakeh added.

Another Arab lawmaker, Ahmad Tibi, condemned the execution calling it a sadistic act and a mark of Cain on the American occupation [in Iraq].