Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti ( April 28 1937 - December 30 2006 ) , was the President of Iraq , from July 16 1979 to April 9 2003 , when he was removed from his position during the War in Iraq led by the United States . Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti ( Arabic : ' ; 28 April 1937 â `` 30 December 2006 ) was the fifth President of Iraq , serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003 .