The rope that tightened around the neck of Saddam Hussein, ending the life of the former Iraqi tyrant in 2006, has attracted bidders from a raft of potential new owners.
The London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed website reported that the rope is currently owned by Iraq's ex-national security advisor Mowaffak al-Rubaie, who was photographed with it on display in his living room hitched around the neck of a bronze bust of the dead dictator.
The bust of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and the actual rope used to hang him, are on display in the living room of former national security adviser Mowaffak al-Rubaie
After the picture was published, al-Rubaie received offers from people who wanted to buy the piece of grisly memorabilia, with bids reportedly coming from an Iranian religious sect, two Kuwaiti businessmen and a wealthy family in Israel.
According to the website, the current bids stands at £4.6m
Speaking to the Independent in 2013, al Rubaie, who accompanied Hussein in his final moments before death, said: “I had my men bring me back a segment of the rope after they cut Saddam down. So I thought it appropriate to put it around the neck of Saddam’s statue.”