Saddam About To Swing?

His hanging is on track and may come very shortly:

Saddam Hussein will be executed no later than Saturday, said an Iraqi judge authorized to attend his hanging. The former dictator's lawyers said he had been transferred from U.S. custody, but an Iraqi official said he was still in the hands of American guards.

The physical transfer of Saddam to Iraqi authorities was believed to be one of the last steps before he was to be hanged, although the lawyers' statement did not specifically say Saddam was in Iraqi hands.

"A few minutes ago we received correspondence from the Americans saying that President Saddam Hussein is no longer under the control of U.S. forces," according to the statement faxed to The Associated Press.

The statement said U.S. officials asked the lawyers to cancel a trip to Baghdad for a last meeting with Saddam, saying he was no longer in American custody.

Munir Haddad, a judge on the appeals court that upheld Saddam's death sentence, said he was ready to attend the execution.

"All the measures have been done," Haddad said. "There is no reason for delays."

No, no need to tarry. Let Saddam finish eating his Whopper (he loves Burger King) then conduct the execution according to the rules that he himself put into place 37 years ago -- if they've managed to make a final selection from the hundreds of volunteer hangmen, that is.

UPDATE:
It's being reported that it will happen before 10 p.m. Eastern. Saddam is balking about going into Iraqi custody; I can't imagine why. Perhaps it's because they won't feed him Whoppers.

UPDATE II:
Appeal to American courts denied.

UPDATE III:
CNN headline: Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein is dead -- executed by hanging for killings committed during a brutal crackdown nearly 25 years ago –- Iraqi TV stations report.

UPDATE IV:
He makes them feel like dancin':

Former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein has been executed, a witness said.

"Saddam's body is in front me," said an official in the prime minister's office when CNN telephoned. "It's over."

In the background, Shiite chanting could be heard. When asked about the chanting, the official said "These are employees of the prime minister's office and government chanting in celebration."

The witness reported that celebrations broke out after Hussein was dead, and that there was "dancing around the body."

The UK Sun says thanks for the memories with some of their favorite pics.

UPDATE VI:
Saddam's last will and testament.