asked Her Majesty's Government:
Why no immediate official comment was made by members of the Cabinet on the circumstances surrounding the execution of the former president of Iraq. [HL1251]
My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary made a Statement immediately after the execution of Saddam Hussein on 30 December 2006. Unofficial footage was published the following day that revealed the unacceptable behaviour of some of the people present. My right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister commented on 2 January 2007. Officials from our embassy in Baghdad repeated concerns to Iraqi officials at the highest level and stressed that further executions should be carried out with appropriate sensitivity and security.