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Anger in Iraq over Saddam's execution

Atul Aneja

Daughters pray that his soul rest in peace

— PHOTO: AFP

AN ANGRY OUTBURST: Iraqis carry portraits of the former President, Saddam Hussein, during a demonstration against his hanging in Mr. Hussein's hometown of Tikrit on Saturday.

DUBAI: The former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein's pre-dawn execution on Saturday has evoked a mixed response, with family members praising him for his courage in the face of death, and detractors maintaining that his execution would have a positive fall-out.

Mr. Hussein's daughters, Raghad and Rana, who watched their father's final moments on television, said they were proud to see their father facing his executioners unflinchingly. Rasha Oudeh, spokesperson of the two sisters said, "They [Hussein's daughters] pray that his soul rests in peace. They were calm and faced this with courage and faith."

There was seething anger in Mr. Hussein's hometown in Awja, near the city of Tikrit, as the news of the execution spread. Reuters quoted a young resident of the village as saying: "This is a mercenary court. Iraqi people reject this court. Saddam is the legal President of Iraq."

At least 500 supporters of Mr. Hussein marched in the streets of Samarra, leading to the imposition of curfew in the town.

Mr. Hussein's two sons, Uday and Qusay who were killed by U.S. troops, are also buried in the village. Sunni pilgrims on Haj have expressed outrage at the Iraqi authorities decision to execute Mr. Hussein on the day of the festival of Eid Al Adah.

Juan Cole, an Iraq expert at the Michigan State university, pointed out that Sunnis celebrate the festival on Eid-Al-Adah on Saturday, while the Shias, who dominate the Iraqi government, do so a day later. "Hanging Saddam on Saturday was perceived by Sunni Arabs as the act of a Shia government that had accepted the Shia ritual calendar," he said.

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