The channel quoted Saddam's chief lawyer Khalil al-Dulaimi assaying that "the Americans have notified us that they have handed over the president to the Iraqi authorities."

"They told us the president is no longer under the authority of the American forces and they requested us not to go to Baghdad," he added.

The hand-over of Saddam to the Iraqi authorities means that the execution is imminent.

An Iraqi judge said that Saddam would be executed by Saturday at the latest.

Munir Haddad, a judge of the appeals court, said that Saddam would be executed "today or tomorrow," adding "all the measures have been done and there is no reason for delays."

Haddad also said he was ready to attend the execution on behalf of the judiciary.

On Tuesday, the Iraqi appeals court announced that the court had upheld the death sentence for Saddam and he would be executed within 30 days.