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Hussein Living on Borrowed Time; Denver Hit by Second Major Snowfall in Week; Time of Remembrance for Family of Gerald Ford

Aired December 29, 2006 - 11:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: And you are with CNN. You are informed.
I am T.J. Holmes, sitting in today for Tony Harris.

HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everybody. I'm Heidi Collins.

Developments keep coming into the NEWSROOM on this Friday, the 29th of December.

Here's what's on the rundown.

The execution of Saddam Hussein. All indicators pointing to death on the gallows, perhaps within hours.

HOLMES: Also, the Denver pileup, part two. The city bombarded by its second blast of winter in just days. Plenty of workers starting the New Year's weekend early.

COLLINS: Tense days after Katrina. A police shooting on a bridge. Now seven New Orleans officers facing criminal charges -- in the NEWSROOM.

Saddam Hussein apparently living on borrowed time. We have some new information now coming into our Baghdad bureau.

Let's get straight to our Ryan Chilcote with the very latest -- Ryan.

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Heidi, we've just gotten off the phone with Saddam Hussein's defense team. They tell us that they have been speaking with American officials and that they believe that Saddam Hussein is still in U.S. custody. They believe that, they tell us, because they have been trying to arrange a meeting between Saddam Hussein and his lawyers, and the defense team says that the U.S. side has tentatively agreed to that meeting for a few days from now, that a -- this is all coming from Saddam's own defense team, we do not have any other source for this -- that the U.S. side has tentatively agreed to a meeting, to arrange a meeting between Saddam and his lawyers that would take place a few days from now.

This all flies in the face of what we have heard earlier in the day. It seems to contradict what we have heard from Saddam's own defense team, that they thought Saddam would be executed as early as tomorrow. It also contradicts things we have been hearing from U.S. officials who also say that they believe Saddam Hussein will be executed this weekend. They -- basing those conclusions on what they have heard from officials in the Iraqi government -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Ryan, how might this change things? We've been talking for quite a few days now about what it would mean if we waited a few more days or if this execution happened several days from now. Does that change the situation in any way?

CHILCOTE: One thing that would change is that Iraqis are about to begin a celebration, a Muslim holiday here called Eid. And it is not clear that Saddam could be executed during that holiday.

That holiday begins -- not clear, according to Iraqi law. That holiday begins this weekend. It lasts for a few days.

And the thinking really up until now has been that Saddam would be executed before that holiday...

COLLINS: Right.

CHILCOTE: ... perhaps as -- as some kind of trophy, if you will, sacrifice to the Iraqi people before the holiday. And so this would seem to contradict that. But the Iraqi prime minister has been very clear that -- and he said this earlier back in November after the Iraqi high tribunal passed down its decision for Saddam to be executed, that he would like to see Saddam executed by the end of the year.

And we have heard from him today -- actually, Iraqi state TV quoting him saying that there would be no reversal of the decision to execute Saddam and that there would be no delay. So this would appear to contradict that, but this again coming only from Saddam's defense team -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Good point, coming from that defense team. We will wait to hear more possibly -- possibly from the U.S. side of things and see if we can get any cooperation on that.

Ryan Chilcote, the information coming in to us just now live from Baghdad.

Thank you.

HOLMES: Oh, poor Denver. Another live look here at Denver. And the roads -- it's looked like this for a couple of weeks now.

And as we start our -- you know, our severe weather coverage for the past couple of weeks, it seemed like Denver has been the town we started with. And we will do it once again.

And our Jonathan Freed is the guy we've been turning to for all of this.

Jonathan, how are you holding up?

JONATHAN FREED, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, T.J., again. We're doing OK. And we're looking out here at an airport that is still fully operational. Let's just take a look at the traffic that we're seeing here.

There's a flight that just landed. Year going to see a very shark-like fin moving behind the berm over there. You'll see the plane coming into view in a second. There's a Continental aircraft over there, Frontier planes moving around.

We're looking out at what are a bank of north-south runways here in Denver. They have four of them. And you might be hearing things like, well, two runways are closed here of the six, are closed here in Denver now.

To put that in perspective, the north-south runways, the four that are operational today, are really the only ones that they tend to use during the wintertime. Runways are generally laid out according to the prevailing winds, and it can be seasonal sometimes. So the two -- the east-west ones that are not running would not normally be operational anyway, and the airport folks here are telling us that they don't even bother to plow those runways at this time of the year.

So there were several hundred flights that were canceled between last night and today proactively. But United, the latest word we have from them is that as of midday today, they expect to be fully operational again here in Denver.

It's blowing. There is a significant amount of snow. And depending on where you are in town, there's Invesco Field down in town where there's a good amount of snow that you can see piled up there. Here at the airport we've had four or five inches of snow, but nothing that the plows here have not been able to handle.

In Denver, I'm Jonathan Freed.

Back to you.

HOLMES: All right, Jonathan. And again, you said flights, a lot are up and running and operational. I remember last week, of course, the airport completely shut down.

They're not at that point, I guess. But give us a better idea -- not that many. You said 100 or so cancellations, but for the most part things sound like they're up and running?

Jonathan might not be able to hear me. And I really -- I was really curious and wanted to hear an answer to that question. I don't know this other audio we might be hearing, but it's something.

COLLINS: I think it's a helicopter.

HOLMES: Jonathan is not able to hear us, but certainly curious about that. The airport, a lot is -- a lot is happening there, but some cancellations. But for the most part, he said United at least one of them that certainly hopes they're going to be fully operational. That's good news for travelers, I guess, but amazing with all that's going on there.

COLLINS: Right. And a live shot now coming in from our affiliate, KMGH, there. I think we were listening to a little bit of audio of the helicopter pilot flying overhead.

And look at that. It's just a whitewash. Amazing to see any vehicles on those roads at all.

I don't know exactly which interstates we are looking at. It's hard to get an idea because there's just so darn much snow, Chad Myers. Only going to get worse, as we see these few brave souls -- and maybe shouldn't even say that, because I know a lot of people are being discouraged from getting out and getting in their cars today.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: A time of private remembrance today for the family of Gerald R. Ford. The former president is being honored at the California church where he and his wife Betty worshiped for nearly 30 years.

CNN's Dan Simon is in Palm Desert, California, for us.

Hello, Dan.

DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, T.J.

It should be quite a sight when Mr. Ford's body arrives here about noon local time. It's a gorgeous sunny day. This church sits on a beautiful hillside.

We're expecting Mr. Ford's body to come here about -- about noon today. There will be a brief arrival ceremony. We saw a dress rehearsal, if you will, going on yesterday.

There will be a private service for Mr. Ford's close friends and family. And then at about 4:00 local time, there will be a public viewing. And they don't have a large parking lot here, so folks are going to be bused in from a local tennis facility. We're expecting thousands to attend.

As for the military and what they've been doing, they tell us they're very well prepared.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LT. RON FLANDERS, U.S. NAVY: Everything is rehearsed a number of times. You know, we are the military, so there's a degree of exactitude and precision. With something like this, honoring a commander in chief, it has to be done perfectly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SIMON: T.J., let me tell you a little bit about this church here today. The Fords have been coming here for 30 years. There's a pew dedicated to them inside. This edition you see behind me was built in 1988, and the Fords actually helped raise the money for it. And one of their daughters -- well, actually, their only daughter, Susan, she was married here in 1979.

So I know this church means a great deal to the family. And again, at 4:00, thousands are expected to attend.

In terms of what's happening tomorrow, Mr. Ford's body is going to be flown to Washington, D.C., where he will lie in state on Sunday and Monday. There will be a service at the National Cathedral on Tuesday. And then on Wednesday, Mr. Ford's body will be flown to Michigan, where he will ultimately be laid to rest at his museum in Grand Rapids.

T.J., back to you.

HOLMES: All right. Dan Simon for us in Palm Desert.

Dan, thank you so much.

COLLINS: Saddam Hussein in court; a justice system on trial. His execution the next test of the fledgling democracy. A legal expert weighs in ahead in the NEWSROOM.

HOLMES: And he brought sensational charges towards three Duke students. Now the D.A. facing charges of his own. That's in the NEWSROOM.

And a football fan who's ahead of the game in more ways than one. His story in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: Our next guest an expert on legal matters all around the world. Mark Ellis is the executive director of the International Bar Association. The group helps oversee the reforms of international law.

So, in light of what is happening here with Saddam Hussein and the execution and the timing of it, it's a pleasure to have you with us today.

MARK ELLIS, INTERNATIONAL BAR ASSOCIATION: Thank you.

COLLINS: Let's talk for a moment, if we could. We've just had some information coming in from our correspondent in Baghdad, Ryan Chilcote, who is reporting this information. This comes to him from the defense attorneys for Saddam, so that is the source.

Saying that they have been asking for quite some time to see their client. And apparently, once again, according to those defense team lawyers, the U.S. has agreed to that, saying that they are still holding Saddam, he is still in U.S. custody, and that they would allow the defense team to see their client within the next few days. What does that say to you?

ELLIS: Well, first of all, it's absolutely consistent with Iraqi law, the tribunal's own statute and international law that defense attorneys are able to visit the client. This had been an issue in the cases as well as to how -- what access the defense lawyers had with Saddam Hussein. So it's not surprising to me that the U.S. authorities have decided to allow the defense counsel to see Saddam Hussein. They should do that.

COLLINS: Except for the timing.

ELLIS: Well, the timing is very interesting. If they're suggesting that his -- that the client or that the defense attorneys will be able to meet him within the next several days, that clearly moves away from what has been the assumption and what the government has stated, that they want the execution to take place immediately. And they have stated prior -- before the end of the year, which gives them by tomorrow.

COLLINS: And then, you know, we talk so much about Eid. This is a very big festival marking the end of Hajj, the second biggest festival on the Muslim calendar. And it would be almost sacrilegious, wouldn't it, to have an execution happen during the time of Eid?

ELLIS: Well, it's interesting, because actually in the Iraqi criminal code, they would be -- the court would be prohibited or the government would be prohibited...

COLLINS: Really?

ELLIS: ... from executing him on a day of -- a festive religious day of Saddam Hussein.

COLLINS: Prohibited?

ELLIS: Absolutely. Now, that's not to say the government will abide by those -- by that statute in the criminal code. They've ignored some other statutes or codes. But it's quite clear in the criminal code that that would not take place.

COLLINS: OK. We should -- it bears worth repeating that, once again, our Ryan Chilcote is reporting this on information that came to him from the defense attorneys of Saddam Hussein. So we are waiting to hear more from the U.S. side of things, if, in fact, there has been an agreement for this meeting between the client and his attorneys.

Is there any legal option left for Saddam Hussein?

ELLIS: There is not. Under -- under the Iraqi code and under the statute of the tribunal, the appeals court was the last court to look at this case. It affirmed the trial court's decision. That is it.

There is no additional judicial steps to be taken. There was only the political step. But the government, again, has made clear that it's going to move forward with the execution of Saddam Hussein.

COLLINS: What about the other cases against Saddam Hussein? We were speaking earlier with another correspondent of ours who has spent a significant amount of time in Baghdad, Michael Holmes. And this came up, because the incident that happened with the Kurds in the north.

ELLIS: Yes, it's a very good point, because this case, the Anfal case that's taking place right now, is in my opinion the most significant case. It involves genocide, 180,000 civilians, Kurds, who were essentially annihilated.

Now, this trial will end in relation to Saddam Hussein if Saddam Hussein is executed. The other defendants in the trial will continue. But of course this is the issue of, well, is there closure?

COLLINS: Right.

ELLIS: Do we have the evidence and the historical record now in this very crucial case, the Anfal case? And we will not have that. And that's a political decision that's being made.

COLLINS: Yes.

Also want to read you something that we found in "The New York Times" today. This was an editorial printed in "The Times."

It says this: "A carefully conducted, scrupulously fair trial could have helped undo some of the damage inflicted by his rule... It could have, but it didn't. After a flawed, political and divisive trial, Mr. Hussein was handed his sentence: death by hanging."

Do you agree with that assessment?

ELLIS: I agree with the assessment in relation to government interference, not with the trial itself. The trial was chaotic at times, but that does not mean it was unfair.

But the government interference to me has always been the crucial issue. You cannot have government interference if you are going to meet international standards of fairness.

We know the government interfered time and time again in the Dujail case and the Anfal case. This I believe will taint the court in the future. And it didn't have to be that way.

COLLINS: Is there a precedent for this, for international law, though? I mean, a country has tried and then ordered the hanging of a former leader? I mean, we have seen at least three cases that I've come across where dictators, if you will, or leaders have been hanged.

ELLIS: Right.

COLLINS: Many, many, many years ago.

ELLIS: Right. But what we're seeing is the international community saying we are no longer going to accept impunity for individuals, including heads of state, who commit international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity. We are going to hold them accountable.

Iraq had the legal right and the authority to undertake these trials and to hold these individuals accountable. That's what they did. The question is, did they do it consistent with the international standards of fairness?

And that's what needs to be learned for future courts, because we're going to see more of these cases in the domestic setting, not necessarily the international setting., but the domestic setting. That's why this case is very important.

COLLINS: Well, Mark Ellis, so glad to have you with us to help us out with this one.

The executive director of the International Bar Association.

Mark, thank you.

ELLIS: You're welcome.

HOLMES: Well, in the chaos after Katrina on a bridge in New Orleans, did the police go too far? Murder charges. We'll tell you about that ahead in the NEWSROOM.

We'll also tell you about the former heavyweight champ of the world. We have got a story to tell you about, and it's not about him doing anything in the ring. Yes, he's in trouble with court again. We'll have more on that coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: A new turn now to tell you about in the Duke lacrosse players case. This is in North Carolina.

The state bar is filing an ethics complaint against district attorney Michael Nifong. It accuses Nifong of making improper comments about the three Duke players accused in the case.

Among those comments, referring to the players as "a bunch of hooligans." Also saying, "One would wonder why one needs an attorney if one was not charged and had not done anything wrong."

Nifong has not commented on the charges against him now. They will be heard by the state's disciplinary hearing commission. Last week the D.A. dropped rape charges against the three athletes in the case. Other charges remain in place.

COLLINS: Denver, it's always beautiful in white. But this much white?

Two big snowstorms eight days apart. People there, I'm sure, getting a little bit frustrated and driving slower every moment. Stormy day is coming up in the NEWSROOM. HOLMES: And who says today's teens can't change the world?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It feels normal for me to be an advisor to the TSA. But, I mean, most people are really impressed and everything, but I was just, like, "Whatever I can do to help."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Yes, a teenager advising the TSA. We'll tell you how and why she's trying to keep them honest.

That is in the NEWSROOM.

But first, we're going to tell you about questions about carbs. What's the best diet for your heart health?

Our chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, takes a closer look in "Fit Nation."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): To carb or not to carb has always been the question for Larue Hill. As a diabetic she knows to stay away from carbohydrates, but she suffers from high blood pressure and wants to avoid the fats as well.

LARUE HILL, DIABETIC: Things that taste good, you still have a tendency to go there when you know you shouldn't.

GUPTA: Now a 20-year-long study in "The New England Journal of Medicine" of 82,000 women finds diets low in carbs and high in fats and proteins don't always put women at risk for heart problems. It seems the benefits came from the types of fats they ate.

DR. TOM HALTON, HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH: We found there was a 30 percent reduced risk of coronary heart disease among women who most closely followed the vegetable-based, low carbohydrate diet.

GUPTA: Those are fats from sunflower oil, soy, nuts, certain veggies, the good fats, fats found in non-animal products, not the steak and bacon often associated with high-protein diets.

But still, many consumers wonder, what's the best plan?

DR. BARBARA HOWARD, MEDSTAR RESEARCH INST.: Follow the current national nutrition recommendations. They recommend lowering your saturated and trans fat, eating a diet that's high in vegetables, and fruits and whole grains. Those are carbohydrates, but they're the good carbohydrates. And watching your weight.

GUPTA: Now, if you do opt for a low-carb diet, it's important to eat the right carbs, whole grains like cereals, breads and pastas made from whole wheat. Cut out the white bread and cookies.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Go for it. Take it on your own breath.

GUPTA: Factors like exercise, smoking, alcohol consumption and family heart history all play roles in our heart health. Some researchers feel this study based purely on a questionnaire doesn't really address those issues, and that people should stick to a balanced diet.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: A live shot now coming in from our affiliate in Denver, Colorado, KMGH. Look at that, gray and white. That's pretty much all you can see.

It's a western wallop. A double-edged winter storm holds a grip on this city. And for the second time in just a week, travel nearly at a standstill.

Chris Parente with affiliate station KWGN is on snow watch.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS PARENTE, REPORTER, KWGN: It is round two: Denver versus Mother Nature. Hopefully this time around we do a little better.

You'll recall last week the whole city was shut down, paralyzed by that major blizzard one week ago. This morning it is considerably better.

Take a quick look here at our major north-south artery. That's I-25 north and south. We have the full fleet, 35 plows on the roads this morning keeping the lanes open. For the first time in the city's history, they've hired 35 private trucks and jeeps with plows to work the neighborhoods, keep those lanes open as well.

We're told the bus schedule here in the city is regular, running full capacity this morning. Out at the airport, you'll recall last week the whole place shut down, thousands of travelers stranded. This time around the airport is still open.

There are of course still plenty of delays out there. United saying they have canceled 125 flights this morning alone. But they are hoping to get back to regular flight schedules by sometime after lunch.

In the meantime, between these two storms, last week's and last night's, Denver has seen almost two feet of snow.

And the lingering effects of one of the big ones is trash collection. Trash is piling up all over town because the trucks can't get to it. We also have a lot of side roads that are still unpassable. And if you've been to the grocery store lately, you now there are no eggs, no milk, no bread. A lot of run on the area grocery stores as well. Officials are hoping, if Mother Nature cooperates, things could be back to normal in Denver metro by the first of the year. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

And in the meantime, Heidi, as I'm sure you know there in Atlanta, one of the upsides to this kind of heavy snowfall in December is a good old-fashioned snowball fight. It's a way to relieve some stress. And if somebody is angry at you they can take it out on you in a relatively nonviolent way.

COLLINS: Ouch! It's painful, isn't it.

(WEATHER REPORT)

HOLMES: We've been talking about this story a bit this morning, and now we're showing you the video. Mike Tyson in court in this morning in Arizona. He was arrested early this morning, early, early this morning, in Scottsdale, Arizona, on a DUI charge, and also possession of cocaine. This 40-year-old former heavyweight champion of the world has been on a tumultuous run, I guess, you could say. A lot of problems legally and he has another issue here.

But police say last night they stopped him after he almost ran into a sheriff's car on the road. They said they stopped him. He was impaired, failed a field sobriety test, and then they found cocaine in his car. The police out there actually say, however, that when they did stop him -- this is not something Mike Tyson is usually known for -- but said he was actually very cooperative, very calm and acted like a complete gentleman.

But this video in just now we're getting from him in court this morning in Arizona. He's expected to post bond and likely be released, but more legal issues, and it's been a tough road for Mike Tyson, who retired from boxing last year officially. Forty years old now. But we're keeping an eye on what happened with Mike Tyson in his latest legal issues.

COLLINS: He ran Iraq with a brutal hand, but he cannot run from the hangman. Saddam Hussein's execution appears imminent. We keep you posted in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: Awaiting the execution of Saddam Hussein. But is it just days away, or is it hours away? Just a short time ago, Hussein's defense lawyers issued a statement saying they have permission from the U.S. to meet with him in the next few days.

However, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told reporters there will be, quote, no reviews or delays in the execution of the criminal Saddam. As far as we know right now, Hussein remains in U.S. custody and has been not handed over to the Iraqi authorities. The lead defense attorney says the U.S. military has asked him to arrange for Hussein's personal belongings to be picked up.

We're watching for any developments on the execution of Saddam Hussein. So stay with CNN for the very latest.

A return to power on the Horn of Africa, the Somalian prime minister back in the capital, Mogadishu, today. Somalian troops, backed by Ethiopian soldiers, moved into the city Thursday. That paved the way for the prime minister's return. Both the Ethiopian and Somalian troops have taken up temporary residence in the former U.S. embassy compound.

For the past six months, the city had be under strict Islamic rule. The retreat of the Islamist fighters triggered looting, but today's developments brought relative calm back to the capital.

The days after Katrina, New Orleans, a city filled with chaos, looting and fear. A deadly police shooting during that time resulting in murder charges.

CNN's Susan Roesgen has details.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN ROESGEN, CNN GULF COAST CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Six days after Katrina, with the city in chaos, New Orleans police got a report of gunfire here, on the Danziger Bridge, about 20 minutes from downtown New Orleans.

But two New Orleans families say it was the police who shot at them as they tried to run away. One man on the bridge that day was Lance Madison.

LANCE MADISON, VICTIM'S BROTHER: They kept cursing me and hollering at me saying, saying, shut up, I don't want to hear it. You were shooting at us. I said, I was not shooting at you all. You all got the wrong guy. I said you can give me a lie detector test, or you give me a gunpowder test. I'll prove to you that, you know, I was nowhere around this.

ROESGEN: Last spring Madison told CNN's Drew Griffin the police killed his mentally disabled brother Ronald as he tried to escape. The police say they thought Ronald had a gun because he reached into his waistband turned toward an officer.

CNN obtained the autopsy report. It shows Ronald Madison had five gunshot wounds in his back.

The other victim was a 19-year-old high schooler, whose family said they were trying to get to a supermarket to get supplies. Police higher ups have consistently defended the officers, but a state grand jury has now indicted all seven involved. Four for first degree murder, and three for attempted murder.

New Orleans District Attorney Eddie Jordan released a statement saying, "We cannot allow our police officers to shoot and kill our citizens without justification like rabid dogs."

But a lawyer for one of the officers calls the indictments shocking. ERIC HESSLER, POLICE ATTORNEY: Obviously, grand jury only heard one side of the story and that was the side that the DA chose to present and we certainly have good credible evidence that will exonerate these officers.

ROESGEN: Lance Madison told CNN the police made a deadly mistake on the Danziger Bridge, and tried to hide it.

MADISON: The story they made up, alibis to cover themselves. I didn't have no weapon at all. My brother didn't have no weapon. We were just trying to get rescued.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLLINS: Want to take you to another live shot that we're getting from our affiliate KMGH in Denver, Colorado. We've been talking for a couple of days now about this second major snowstorm that's happening in the city, the second in a week, I should say. And this shot we are now looking at, you see all of the animals outside of the Sheldon Dairy Farm. This is specifically in Weld County, Colorado, a rural area surrounding Denver there, a collapse of the building. Looks like that's where several of the animals were being kept as they go about their business on the dairy farm. These animals, many of them outside scattered all over the place. So we see crews working on it a little bit and trying to assess the damage, I'm sure, at this time.

We will continue to watch this. But the massive buildup of the snow on top of those roofs, you can certainly understand how this might happen. And, again, these pictures coming in from KMGH, our affiliate there in Denver, Colorado, hit hard, again, by this major snowstorm.

HOLMES: Well, who says today's teens can't change the world?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It feels normal for me to be an adviser to the TSA, but most people are really impressed and everything, but I was just like, whatever I can do to help.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HOLMES: Whatever I can do to help. Yes, she's advising the TSA. She's a teenager. And we'll tell you how and why she's trig to keep them honest. That's coming up in the NEWSROOM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

COLLINS: This information just into us now here at CNN. We have been following the developing story all day long about the possibility of Saddam Hussein's execution and the fact that it is imminent. This information now according to Reuters News Service. We are learning that Saddam Hussein has apparently been handed over to Iraqi authorities. He has, as you know, been in custody with the United States, and apparently has been handed over to Iraqi authorities. What exactly does that mean? at this point, we are not exactly sure.

This could mean a bit of a faster process moving towards his execution. But once again, according to Reuters News Service Saddam Hussein has been handed over to Iraqi authorities and in their custody now. We're checking with all of our sources on the ground in and around Baghdad and at the Pentagon to find out whether or not this information can be confirmed here at CNN.

Again, Reuters saying it has turned over Saddam Hussein to the Iraqi authorities. We will stay on top of it and bring you the very latest just as soon as we get it here.

(BUSINESS HEADLINES)

COLLINS: Once again, want to remind you the story we are just getting in here to CNN. According to Reuters News Service. We are learning that Saddam Hussein has been handed over to Iraqi authorities. As you well know, he has been in the custody of the United States for quite some time now, as all of these court proceedings took place, to determine what his sentence would be. That sentence coming down on November 4th, that he would be sentenced to death by hanging for the 1982 Dujail massacre; 148 Shiite men and boys were massacred in 1982. And as we have just reported here, according to Reuters, the U.S. says it has turned over custody of Saddam Hussein to Iraqi authorities.

HOLMES: All right. We're also getting word, of course, now from the A.P. wires, that a judge, an Iraqi judge saying that Saddam will be executed by Saturday at the latest. This is some information we're now just getting, and this seems to be moving a lot faster. The word was -- speculation was that once he was officially handed over from U.S. custody to Iraqi custody, that it wouldn't be that much longer before the execution took place. We do have Aneesh Raman standing by.

And, Aneesh, what can you tell us?

ANEESH RAMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a dramatic development. Reports now suggesting that Saddam Hussein has in fact been handed over from U.S. custody to Iraqi authorities. These are reports at the moment that CNN is looking to independently confirm. But it suggests the final step, essentially, before Saddam Hussein could be executed. That means that this execution could take place any time now.

We had heard reports earlier today from one of Saddam Hussein's chief lawyers that indications on the ground suggested to him this execution would take place on Saturday, during the day Friday in Baghdad.

Rampant speculation, on the ground, that speculation has neared an obsession among the Iraqi people trying to figure out when this execution would take place.

We had heard both from Saddam's lawyer saying Saturday seemed to him to be the day. Also, another of Saddam's lawyers said that he had been contacted by U.S. military personnel to make arrangements to pick up Saddam's belongings. But what had been slowing us down throughout the day, was that we had a number of confirmations from officials that Saddam was still in U.S. custody. As we say now, the dramatic developments just in the past few minutes, reports that Saddam Hussein has in fact been handed over from U.S. authority to Iraqi authority.

Again, the final step essentially in the handover before the Iraqi process begins. That process, we don't know how long it could take. Leads ultimately to Saddam Hussein's execution.

COLLINS: Aneesh, we know that the defense attorneys for Saddam Hussein have been asking for quite some time to meet with their client. Will that meeting in fact happen as well?

RAMAN: Unlikely. What we had heard from Saddam's defense lawyers was they were hoping to meet with him on January 6th. That of course now seems unlikely. There's no estimation on the ground that Saddam Hussein will linger in Iraqi custody for any lengthy period of time.

Again, all indications, once this handover has happened -- reports now saying that it has -- it will be a swift process between the handover and when Saddam Hussein would be executed.

His lawyers have been out in the forefront of the global press after the sentencing on November 5th calling for the appellate process to be upheld in their mind to reject the death sentence. That did not happen.

Just days ago, the appellate chamber of the Iraqi high tribunal confirming the death sentence for Saddam Hussein. After that, his lawyers called upon the international community, who were and are, largely divided over the use of capital punishment, to try and put a stay to this execution.

We saw governments from capitals around the world suggest that the Iraqi government should itself intervene and put a stay on this execution. Wondering whether if even you believe this is the right thing to do, this is the right time. But keep in mind the execution of Saddam Hussein.

Since that day that the appellate court upheld the death sentence, is purely essentially a political exercise. All legal procedures had up until that point been exhausted. The appellate chamber confirming the sentence, saying Saddam Hussein had to be executed by January 27th.

That political realm is where you find a number of Iraqi politicians who, just like the Iraqi people, many of them seething with anger still over Saddam Hussein's tyrannical decades-rule of Iraq, many of them eager to see swift justice.

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, had earlier before the appellate process even ended, suggested he expected Saddam Hussein to be hung by the end of the year. Those comments that happened weeks ago resonating loudly on the streets of Baghdad in the past few days as everyone looked to the government, who weren't providing many clues as to when this execution would take place. But saw all indications that it could perhaps happen by the end of the year.

Again, a dramatic perhaps development. Reports that we are waiting to confirm that Saddam Hussein has now been handed over from U.S. custody to Iraqi authorities, a final step before his execution -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Aneesh, it seems important to talk at this time about Eid, the he festival. The second largest festival on the Muslim calendar. We have learned from one of our guests here, international law actually prohibits an execution happening during the time of Eid, learning this would almost be equivalent to killing a leader in the Christian faith on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Can you speak to that?

RAMAN: Not only international law but, Heidi, Iraq's own criminal law prohibits executions during Eid. Eid comes at the end of the holy Hajj that is taking place in Saudi Arabia that begins -- and, again, it various on your sect of Islam -- for Sunnis, essentially tomorrow, for Shia on Sunday.

Saddam Hussein, as you well know, is a Sunni, which is why that would add argument that Saddam Hussein could be executed within the next few minutes. It's now creeping on 8:00 p.m. here in Baghdad Friday evening.

But Eid is thought to be one of the holiest auspicious moments in Islam. There had been suggestions that not only would it be against Iraqi criminal law to execute Saddam Hussein during Eid but, at the same time, that it could be something the government might do, a sense that for the Shia people of the world -- and we heard it from some within, some of them looked at al-Sadr, the Shia cleric's camp, for the Shia people, a gift from the Iraqi government to execute Saddam Hussein during the Shia Eid.

But again, if we trace the calendar, Sunni Eid, as far as I understand it, will begin in earnest tomorrow. That adds, if you will, credence to the argument Saddam Hussein could have mere hours to live if they do it by midnight tonight. It's now 8:00 p.m. here local -- Heidi.

COLLINS: All right. Aneesh Raman reporting to us live with this breaking news that we are learning from Baghdad. Aneesh, we know we'll see you back here in just a few minutes. Thank you.

HOLMES: Meanwhile, our Barbara Starr standing by for us at the Pentagon. Barbara, what more can you tell us from the U.S. side about what they knew and just what the buzz is around there now?

BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, behind the scenes, this has all been held very close to the vest, very quietly. Here at the Pentagon for days now, military officials have been saying they will not comment, they will not react on it. They are being quietly kept informed about the process of these events. They had expected the turnover, but all of the information really coming through State Department channels between the Iraqi government and the Bush Administration. What the Bush Administration wants to do is show the face of the Iraqi government to the world. They want this to be a process carried out under the Iraqi law and by the new Iraqi government.

They think it's very important that the Iraqi people believe that this was done by their elected government, that the Bush Administration, if you will, had no hand in it per se except of course that the Bush Administration, the U.S. military has been handling much of Saddam's security arrangements while he's been in custody these many months.

Now, all of this comes, of course, as President Bush is contemplating that change in strategy in Iraq. Top military officials throughout the holiday period have been working with the new Defense Secretary Gates, with the president, on trying to come up with that new strategy, trying to decide if they want to surge troops in Iraq, have a troop increase, what it would accomplish, what kind of political and economic progress they want to have in Iraq from the new Iraqi government. Trying to get the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to make that commitment to that kind of process because what they really strongly believe is that the execution of Saddam Hussein fundamentally will unfortunately not make a difference to the situation of the violence and unrest in Iraq.

The situation in Iraq really, of course, has moved far beyond simply the existence of Saddam Hussein. You know, since that bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, since the eruption now for so many months of sectarian Shia on Sunni violence, that is really what the U.S. military is dealing with. That's what Iraqi security forces are dealing with.

So while they may all have their views and their feelings about Saddam Hussein's impending execution, the feeling here and the feeling by military commanders is that fundamentally unfortunately it will not make a difference to the security situation on the ground -- T.J.

HOLMES: All right. Our Barbara Starr for us at the Pentagon.

We now want to turn and quickly bring in Mike Newton, who's a former adviser to the Iraqi tribunal. Mike Newton, thank you for giving us a moment here.

Tell me your thoughts and what you're thinking about this -- the quick developments. And this appears to be about to happen on Saturday.

MIKE NEWTON, FMR. IRAQI TRIBUNAL ADVISER: Well, I would think that what you just heard is essentially a correct conclusion, that it won't make a huge difference in the short term fundamentally in the level of violence.

It does mark a definitive end to the institutionalized oppression of the Baathist Party. And so for that reason as part of the historical record it's important.

The big thing is, remember that this trial process will go on with other trials and other defendants and the historical record of the trial will be established when more Iraqis go back and read the 283-page trial judgment. And so this is just a step in the long-term process of healing Iraq.

HOLMES: A step -- are you surprised though that they didn't want to wait a little bit. I guess, we were talking to another guest earlier, who said, hey, let's get it over with and let's get this part of Iraqi history behind us. Can you quickly give me your thoughts on that.

NEWTON: Well, the Iraqi law requires that the sentence be implemented within 30 days of the conclusion of the appeal. So they really have no choice to wait. The Anfal genocide case, which is a major, major case involved hundreds of thousands of victims began on August the 21st and is essentially at it's two-thirds point.

The defense case in chief is about to begin. But, remember, Saddam is the only common defendant of those two cases. So there are many more cases, many more defendants, many more trials to come

HOLMES: All right, Mr. Newton, former adviser to the Iraqi tribunal. Thank you for giving us a minute here. We'll continue to be all over this story here.

COLLINS: That's right. In fact, our coverage of the impending execution of Saddam Hussein continues right now with our sister network, CNN international.

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