"We shall make very strong representations about the need not to use the death penalty," Straw told lawmakers during a British parliamentary session on Tuesday.

"We were successful in the period of the Iraqi governing council in persuading them to suspend the death penalty," he said.

Straw said Iraqi ministers were known to support the use of the death penalty for Saddam after June 30, when the US-led coalition hands over sovereignty to an interim administration.

Iraqi interim Prime minister Iyad Allawi said earlier on Tuesday he expects Saddam, held by US forces at an undisclosed location, will be in Iraqi custody by the time of the handover.

But US President George W Bush said later that the interim Iraqi government must enact tougher security measures before US forces will hand Saddam over for trial.

"I just want to make sure that, when sovereignty is transferred, Saddam Hussein stays in jail," Bush said. "I'm confident that, when it's all said and done, he will stay in jail. I just want to be assured."

British Prime Minister Tony Blair also extended support to hand over Saddam to the interim administration in Iraq.