Wikinews:Briefs/January 3, 2007

The time is 12:00 (UTC) on January 3, 2007, and this is Audio Wikinews News Briefs.

Iraqi government to investigate Saddam video
Iraq

A cell phone video has surfaced in various Arab media outlets and also on video sharing websites such as YouTube that shows Saddam Hussein's hanging uncensored. The video contained audio of some witnesses taunting Saddam with chants of "Muqtada" and of the former leader responding that his tormentors were being unmanly. The prime minister on Tuesday ordered an investigation into the conduct of Saddam Hussein’s execution in a bid to learn who among the witnesses taunted the former Iraqi leader in the last minutes of his life and leaked a cell phone video.

Insurgents now control Iraqi city
Also in Iraq...

The city of Baqubah, just northeast of Baghdad, seems to have collapsed under insurgent control. In October, U.S. forces in the area began to pull back, handing security largely over to Iraqi forces. Now, The Los Angeles Times reports the capital city of the Diyala province has become one of Iraq's most-troubled areas. Iraqi forces are abusive and neglectful, according to U.S. and Iraqi officials. Insurgents have been seen on video pulling Shiite families from their homes, killing them, U.S. officials said.

New Zealand holiday road toll at 26-year low
New Zealand

The New Zealand Christmas holiday road toll has been the lowest it has ever been in 26-years, with nine deaths. The annual road toll is also the lowest it has ever been since 1963, with 387 deaths for the whole of 2006.

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