• Tools:
• Save |
• Print |
• E-mail |
• Most Popular |

Second guard held in Hussein video investigation

Adjust font size:

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A second security guard who witnessed Saddam Hussein's execution was detained for questioning Thursday in the investigation into a cell phone video of the hanging, an aide to the Iraqi prime minister told CNN.

The Shiite-led Iraqi government suspects the pair of guards -- who work for the Justice Ministry, which is led by a Sunni -- were responsible for recording and publicizing the video of the execution, the aide Sami al-Askari said. The video was seen widely on Internet sites and TV.

In the video, taunts from Shiites can be heard moments before Hussein, a Sunni, is hanged.

The taunts and exchanges on the video angered Iraqis, including moderate Sunnis, and ignited fierce criticism for the way Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government handled Hussein's execution Saturday morning.

The images fed Sunni fears that the Shiite-led government had carried out a sectarian lynching, not a legitimate execution.

Hashim al-Shibli, a Sunni and member of the Iraq National Accord led by former Prime Minister Ayad Allawi -- runs the Justice Ministry. Al-Shibli had left Iraq Thursday for Amman, Jordan, and was expected to return on Sunday.

Al-Askari admitted "mistakes that took place during the execution" but said individuals, not the government, were to blame. Hussein was a criminal who was executed after a fair trial, he said.

Adviser: Did videotaper act alone or for organization?

The first guard was detained Wednesday and will face charges, depending on whether he "acted alone and in the spur of the moment, or whether he planned beforehand and acted in coordination with others outside the court like media or political organizations," al-Maliki's adviser Sadiq al-Rikabi said. (Watch why guard was detained )

Iraqi National Security Adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie, who also witnessed the execution, told CNN Wednesday he expected at least two more arrests in connection with the leaked video. (Full story)

Whoever was responsible for distributing the images of Hussein's last moments "meant harm to the national unity of Iraq," he said. He added that there were a few people inside the execution chamber whom he did not witness going through the security process.

"These people have done a lot of harm," he said. "And I honestly believe that this may well have been planned by one of these Arab television channels infiltrating, and probably this video has been sold to this Arab television station," he said.

U.S. officials tried to delay the execution, fearing it would fuel perceptions the death of the former Iraqi dictator was more about Shiite retribution than about justice. (Full story)

Iraqi officials will be "extra, extra careful" to ensure no infiltration takes place at the upcoming execution of Barzan Hassan, Hussein's half-brother, and Awad Bandar, the former chief judge of the Revolutionary Court, al-Rubaie added.

As was Hussein, the two men were found guilty for their roles in the 1982 Dujail massacre.

No date has been set for their execution, but it will take place after the Eid al-Adha holiday, which ends Sunday.

The United Nations has appealed to Iraq not to carry out the death sentence, according to Reuters news agency.

CNN's Sam Dagher, Arwa Damon, Jomana Karadsheh, and Yousif Bassel contributed to this report.

Get up-to-the minute news from CNN CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.

---

• Jackson's pill use emerges
• Jackson glove hid skin disease?
• Man killed in bull run
• Teacher quizzed over pupil attack
• Obama at G-8: Recovery still ahead

• Irish PM to quit over payments scandal
• NATO chief: Afghan troop increase likely
• Militants hunted as calm retuns to Basra
• Pressure on Bush to skip Olympics
• BA sending misplaced T5 baggage to Milan

• Recruiting suicide bombers (2:50)
• London was lucky (2:36)
• Cars in London rigged as bombs (3:48)
• Second explosives-packed car foun (2:32)
• Soviet culture returns (3:47)