A bailiff tries to silence Saddam Hussein shouts at the court as the verdict is delivered during his trial. Photograph: David Furst/AP
Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein has just been sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of crimes against humanity.
Clebratory gunfire is being reported by the BBC in parts of central Baghdad, and Iraq is braced for violence following the verdict.
The front page of the Fox News website now has a large graphic with Saddam's bearded face on one side and a gavel and the word "GUILTY!" in big letters on the other. And bloggers are responding to the news already.
July 7 bombings survivor and prominent UK blogger Rachel North is not surprised by the timing of the verdict - just two days before the US midterm elections - "whether it'll bounce the Republicans sufficiently remains to be seen", she says. Raed Jarrar is also suspicious of the timing.
Joe Gandelman of blog The Moderate Voice feels divided - happy for all Saddam's victims that justice has been done, but he also has reservations because "I simply find it difficult to rejoice about the coming death of a man (however evil he is) who is already locked up". However the less nuanced views of many bloggers in the US and elsewhere is reflected in the headline on this post by Rantings of a Sandmonkey.
Let us know what you think in the comments below.
