The Abdulghafoor family, who now owns a coffee shop in West El Paso, has close ties in Kuwait, a country that was under the threat of Saddam Hussein for more than two decades. They said this is a time of happiness for their people.

"I see it as the end," Yousef Abdulghafoor said.

Abdulghafoor, part owner of the coffee shop Q-8, said he is -- in some way -- relieved to know Hussein is dead.

"It's the most humiliating way to go in our culture," said Abdulghafoor as he watched video of Hussein being taken to the gallows by his executioners.

For some, the hanging marked a death that was too quick.

"The best punishment for a character like Saddam that had everything and was free to do what he will would have been to keep him in confindment," said Abdulghafoor.

Abdulghafoor said hanging was the "easy way out" for Hussein as opposed to the suffering his family members and thousands of others endured when the executed dictator threatenend the region.

"I was in Kuwait during the invasion, and I stayed the whole 7 months. I saw what the Iraqis led by Saddam Hussein did to my country," said Abdulghafoor's father, Fowzi.

Yousef added, "We always know there was threats by Saddam Hussein. There were times when we had to attend school with homemade gas masks."

Hussein's death may not stop the violence in Iraq, but Abdulghafoor said it offers hope for that region.

"I think it will stabilize eventually. It's a small step but a step in the right direction," said Abdulghafoor.

Abdulghafoor has been living in El Paso for five years now and even though it's his home for now, he has no problem going back to Kuwait where he still has family -- where one particular threat has been eliminated forever.

"I think it's a general feeling across the board. The general feel of happiness and a little security," said Abdulghafoor.

Hussein was to be buried Sunday in the same cemetery where his sons are buried.

Arab media outlets reported Saturday that the Iraqi government formally handed over Hussein's body to the leader of the Bou Nasser tribe. The body was then taken to Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, where members of the tribe and clerics prayed over it, according to media reports.