The Associated Press quoted Prosecutor Munqith al-Faroon as saying Saddam's half brother Barzan Ibrahim, and former intelligence chief Awad Hamed al-Bandar were hanged before dawn, local time (this afternoon AEDT), today.

"They (the government) called us before dawn and told us to send someone. I sent a judge to witness the execution and it happened," Mr al-Faroon was quoted as saying.

The hangings come just 16 days after the chaotic execution of Saddam, which drew international criticism, and in apparent defiance of a call for a delay from Iraqi President Jalal Talabani.

"In my opinion we should wait on the executions," Mr Talabani said last week following worldwide condemnation of the manner of Saddam's hanging. "We should examine the situation," he said.

More to come...