Saddam death sentence ruling 'milestone'- White House

WACO: An Iraqi court decision upholding Saddam Hussein's death sentence is an "important milestone" for Iraq, White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said on Tuesday.    

"Today marks an important milestone in the Iraqi people's efforts to replace the rule of a tyrant with the rule of law," he told reporters aboard Air Force One traveling with President George W Bush to Texas.   

An Iraqi appeals court said 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 utilize the institutions of democracy to pursue justice," 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."