Iraq on Thursday, June 7 executed Saddam Hussein's presidential secretary and chief bodyguard Abid Hamid Mahmud, justice ministry spokesman Haidar al-Saadi said, according to AFP.

"He was executed today," Saadi said, adding: "The ministry of justice implemented the execution sentence against the criminal Abd Hmoud... for genocide," referring to Mahmud by the name Iraqis call him.

Mahmud was number four on the list of Iraqi officials targeted by American forces following the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, behind only Saddam and his two sons Uday and Qusay.

He was captured on June 16, 2003, and eventually sentenced to death on October 26, 2010 along with former deputy premier Tareq Aziz and ex-interior minister Saadun Shaker, for their role in the crackdown on Shiite Muslim religious parties during the 1980s.

Saddam, who was hanged on December 30, 2006, killed a large number of Shiite leaders during the 1980-88 war with Iran.

When in power, Saddam was rarely seen without Mahmud, who shadowed the president and was charged with handing down his orders to Iraqi ministries and ensuring his personal safety.

Both men came from the same village of Aujah, just outside Tikrit north of Baghdad.

With his signature beret and moustache, Mahmud's official title was presidential secretary, but a British government dossier said he was responsible for Saddam's personal security, as well as defence, security and intelligence issues.

The dossier said Mahmud, a lieutenant general in the army, "is regarded by some as the real number two figure in the Iraqi leadership," as he controlled access to Saddam and could override government decisions.

Mahmud was seen at Saddam's side in his last appearance on television before his capture, aired on April 7, 2003.