Saddam handed over for hanging: Lawyers

8220;A few minutes ago we received correspondence from the Americans saying that President Saddam Hussein is no longer under the control of US forces,8221; according to the statement faxed to The Associated Press.

Munir Haddad, a judge on the appeals court that upheld Saddam8217;s death sentence, said he was ready to attend the execution. 8220;All the measures have been done,8221; Haddad said. 8220;There is no reason for delays.8221;

In Baghdad, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has signed Saddam8217;s death sentence, a government official said. The official, who refused to be identified by name because he was not authorised to release the information, said that Iraqi authorities were not yet in control of Saddam. 8220;We will get him when the execution is going to be carried out,8221; said the official.

8220;We are waiting for the friendly side to hand him over to us,8221; the official said in a reference to American forces, who are allied with the Iraqi government.

8220;We have agreed with the Americans that the handover will take place only a few minutes before he is executed,8221; the official said.

The discrepancy could not be explained.

The defence team statement called on 8220;everybody to do everything to stop this unfair execution.8221;

Earlier on Friday, Khalil al-Dulaimi, the head of the defence team, told AP that American officials had called him to ask that he authorise someone to receive the personal effects of Saddam and his half-brother Barzan Ibrahim from the US military prison where they were being held.

8212;QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA