MOSCOW (The International News) -- The execution of Saddam Hussein was rushed to prevent the former Iraqi leader from revealing facts that could compromise the United States, former Russian prime minister Yevgeny Primakov said Sunday.

Saddam was executed in an "unexpected" way so "he could not have the last word" and reveal compromising information on the relationship between the United States and his former regime, the veteran diplomat said on a television channel.

If Saddam Hussein "had said everything (he knew), the current US president (George W Bush) would have been greatly embarrassed," said Primakov, a Middle East expert formerly on good terms with Saddam.

Primakov highlighted the military cooperation between Washington and Baghdad during the 1980s which Saddam started a long war against Iran.

He also alleged that Saddam made a deal with Washington before the 2003 invasion of Iraq to allow the United States to occupy the country without meeting any opposition.

Primakov made two confidential visits to Iraq at the request of Russian President Vladimir Putin shortly before the U.S.-led invasion of the country. Saddam was executed for crimes against humanity on December 30.