WASHINGTON, Dec 26: The United States on Tuesday called the upholding of Saddam Hussein’s death sentence an “important milestone’ for Iraq. “Today marks an important milestone in the Iraqi people’s efforts to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law,” White House spokesman Scott Stanzel told reporters.

An Iraqi appeals court said earlier on Tuesday that Saddam’s death sentence must be carried out within the next 30 days. Saddam was ousted from power by the US-led invasion in 2003, and later captured and put on trial.

“The Iraqis deserve praise for continuing to utilise the institutions of democracy to pursue justice,” Mr Stanzel said.“Saddam Hussein has received due process and legal rights that he denied the Iraqi people for so long, so this is an important day for the Iraqi people.”