Ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has been executed by hanging.
He was put to death just before dawn on Saturday in Baghdad, four days after his appeal was turned down by Iraqi's high court.
An Iraqi court had sentenced the 69-year old former dictator to death early last month for ordering the killings of 148 Shi'ite villagers in 1982 following a failed assassination attempt on Saddam.
After Iraqi state television confirmed the execution had taken place, many Iraqis celebrated in the streets.
A U.S. federal judge in Washington rejected a last-minute appeal by Saddam's lawyers who sought a temporary restraining order to block his execution.
Saddam Hussein had ruled Iraq with an iron fist for more than two decades before his ouster in a U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
U.S. forces captured Saddam in December 2003 - eight months after a U.S.-led invasion ousted him from power.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said those who oppose the death sentence for Saddam are insulting the memory of his victims.
Saddam also was being tried on charges of genocide for a military campaign against Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s. Prosecutors say 180-thousand Kurds were killed.
He was put to death just before dawn on Saturday in Baghdad, four days after his appeal was turned down by Iraqi's high court.
An Iraqi court had sentenced the 69-year old former dictator to death early last month for ordering the killings of 148 Shi'ite villagers in 1982 following a failed assassination attempt on Saddam.
After Iraqi state television confirmed the execution had taken place, many Iraqis celebrated in the streets.
A U.S. federal judge in Washington rejected a last-minute appeal by Saddam's lawyers who sought a temporary restraining order to block his execution.
Saddam Hussein had ruled Iraq with an iron fist for more than two decades before his ouster in a U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
U.S. forces captured Saddam in December 2003 - eight months after a U.S.-led invasion ousted him from power.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said those who oppose the death sentence for Saddam are insulting the memory of his victims.
Saddam also was being tried on charges of genocide for a military campaign against Iraqi Kurds in the 1980s. Prosecutors say 180-thousand Kurds were killed.