Saddam: CBS, NBC, FNC Report News

CBS, NBC, and FNC broke the news of Saddam Hussein‘s imminent execution at roughly the same time tonight:

6:30pm, CBS News: Russ Mitchell: “CBS News has learned that the U.S. military will turn Saddam Hussein over to Iraqi authorities within the next 36 hours, and he’ll be executed before the start of a Muslim holiday on Sunday.” Randall Pinkston “spoke exclusively with a top Iraqi official who says it’s now full speed ahead for Saddam’s trip to the gallows.”

6:30pm, Fox News: Shep Smith said Saddam could die “perhaps as early as tomorrow morning,” citing a U.S. military official.

6:31pm, NBC News: We “have been told by U.S. military and intelligence officials that the execution could take place within the next 48 hours or perhaps as early as tomorrow,” Richard Engel reported from Baghdad.