Iraq demands former UK soldier return piece of Saddam Hussein's buttock

Kurds topple the statue of Saddam Hussein in Kirkuk, Northern Iraq in 2003. (AP)

More than five years after Saddam Hussein was executed, Iraq still wants a piece of its former president: his buttock, currently being held by an ex-UK soldier.

Nigel Ely, 52, grabbed a 2-pound piece of Hussein’s bronze statue – that made up part of his rear-end -- when it was pulled down by Iraqis in 2003, the Sun reports.

Ely claims he is the legal owner of the buttock since he has turned it into a work of art. But the Iraqi government is demanding that he returns it or face possible theft charges, as it views the piece of scrap metal as a “cultural antiquity,” the Sun reports.

Ely attempted to auction off the buttock last year to raise money for injured troops through military charities, but was unsuccessful.

"When I got it, it was just a piece of scrap metal,” he told the Sun.

British police are investigating ownership of the buttock.

Click to read more on this story from the Sun.