Washington, DEC 30, SPA -- The Pentagon on Friday said it was on high alert for any signs of violence that Saddam s execution may inspire. The United States announced earlier today that it had handed over custody of Saddam to the Iraqi government, and the Iraqi government said it would execute Saddam on Saturday, at the latest. U.S. forces in Iraq are obviously at a high state of alert anytime because of the environment that they operate in and because of the current security situation, said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman. They'll obviously take into account social dimensions that could potentially lead to an increase in violence which certainly would include carrying out the sentence of Saddam Hussein. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/414956