United Nations and European Union leaders have condemned the executions in Baghdad of two of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's top aides.

UN chief Ban Ki-Moon said he regretted the move, while a top EU official said it had damaged Iraqi reconciliation.

The US and UK also expressed concern about the conduct of the executions.

Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar were hanged for crimes against humanity - Barzan was decapitated by the noose, but officials said it was an accident.

A half-brother of Saddam Hussein, Barzan was Iraq's former intelligence chief and al-Bandar was the former head of the Revolutionary Court.