New Video Shows Saddam's Body

A secretly filmed video of Saddam Hussein's body has been posted on the internet today, showing the hanged former president's twisted neck and gashed face.

The grainy clip - which lasts for 27 seconds and appears to have been shot on a mobile phone - shows a sheet being removed from the body as it lies on a hospital trolley, revealing the wounds.

It is the third piece of unofficial footage of the December 30 hanging and its aftermath to emerge.

The new film is likely to stir up more violence from Saddam's Sunni supporters and add to international condemnation of Iraq's handling of the execution.

An investigation to determine who released and filmed Shia officials taunting the former Iraqi dictator seconds before he was hanged is under way.

Today's video, posted by supporters of Saddam on a website backing the Ba'ath party, is likely to increase the pressure on Tony Blair to condemn the way the execution was carried out.

Mr Blair has so far made no public comment, despite widespread outrage having been voiced by his senior cabinet colleagues.

In an interview on Sunday, the chancellor, Gordon Brown, described the handling of the execution as "completely unacceptable".

Mr Brown's comments appeared to have bounced the prime minister into planning to make a statement on the execution to avoid giving the impression of being isolated.

Yesterday, Mr Blair's official spokesman confirmed that the prime minister would address the issue at some point this week.