U.S. court rejects bid to stop Saddam execution
Source: Reuters
(Updates with court rejecting request) WASHINGTON, Dec 29 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge denied on Friday a move by lawyers to delay the execution of ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, who faces hanging within hours. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly said Saddam was not being held in U.S. custody and as a result her court lacked jurisdiction. Lawyers for Saddam earlier on Friday had asked the court to order a halt to his execution. In a last-minute filing to the U.S. District Court of Washington, Hussein's lawyers asked for a temporary stay of execution because Saddam is a defendant in a civil case in the same court and he has been prevented from being able to defend himself. (Additional reporting by Jim Wolf in Washington)
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