Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been sentenced to death, after a court found him guilty of crimes against humanity for ordering killings in the town of Dujail in 1982.
Guards led Saddam away after he shouted "long live Iraq, long live the nation" in response to the verdict.
Iraq's former Chief Justice, Awad Hamad al-Bandar, was also sentenced to death by hanging for presiding over hearings that ordered the killings of about 150 people in Dujail. Saddam's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim, was another sentenced to death.
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Saddam's former vice-president, Taha Yassin Ramadan was sentenced to life in jail.
Other defendants who were tried with Saddam also appeared before the verdict hearing.
The first, a minor Ba'ath party official, was acquitted. Three others were then sentenced to jail terms of at least 15 years.
Some of the tightest security ever seen in Iraq has been put in place for the hearing, after supporters of Saddam threatened bloodshed if he was sentenced to death.
Soon after the verdict was announced, Sky News reported a machine-gun battle broke out in northern Baghdad between police and unidentified gunmen. However, the Associated Press reported celebratory gunfire across Baghdad.
A panel of appeal judges will now review the death sentence against Saddam. If no grounds to appeal the decision are found,
the former dictator may be executed within 30 days. http://au.news.yahoo.com/061105/23/11b22.html