The sentence “must be implemented within 30 days,” chief judge Aref Shahin. “From tomorrow, any day could be the day of implementation.”

A spokesperson for the court said Tuesday that the decision still had to be ratified by President Jalal Talabani and Vice Presidents Adil Abdul-Mahdi and Tariq Al-Hashimi before an execution could be carried out, but noted that if the leaders do not ratify the decision "we'll implement the verdict by the power of the law."

The decision of the appeals court must be ratified by President Jalal Talabani and Iraq's two vice-presidents. Mr. Talabani opposes the death penalty but has, in the past, deputized a vice-president to sign an execution order on his behalf, a substitute that has been legally accepted.

Hussein was sentenced to death by the trial court on November 5. He and six co-defendants are currently standing trial on additional genocide charges in connection with attacks against Kurds during the so-called "Anfal" campaigns. Last week, two of Saddam's co-defendants denied using chemical weapons against Kurds, insisting that any action taken was by order of their superiors.