Shiites across Iraq have rejoiced at Saddam's death verdict, but
the country's outraged Sunnis slammed it as purely a political
showcase.
Iraq's High Tribunal Sunday sentenced ousted President Saddam
Hussein and two of his senior aides to death by hanging for crimes
against humanity in the Dujail case.
Tens of thousands of Shiites on Sunday took to the streets in
Shiite areas and neighborhoods in Iraq to celebrate the verdict,
asking for "a quick death" to Saddam.
"Sunday is a happy day for all Iraqis and I pray to God that the
sentence will be carried out soon," Hussein al-Shamari, a Shiite
resident in Baghdad, told Xinhua.
"This was less than what Saddam deserves for his crimes
committed to all Iraqis. God willing, he will be executed," said
Muhammed Sabieh, whose words highlighted strong hatred among
Shiites after decades of oppression under Saddam's rule.
"The court has brought justice to my son who was killed by
Saddam," said Um Karrar, 55, a housewife who was weeping.
Although the trial healed Shiites' wounds somewhat, there are
real fears that the verdict could further divide the country and
stir more sectarian bloodshed.
Iraqi Sunnis, who once dominated the country during Saddam's
reign, protested against the verdict shortly after it was
announced.
Residents in Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, some 170 km north of
Baghdad, demonstrated to voice opposition to the verdict despite a
curfew imposed there.
A local police source told Xinhua that over 1,000 demonstrators
showed up on the streets despite US troops "shot bullets in the air
to disperse the protesters."
"I broke my television because I was angry when they deliver the
verdict on Saddam," Saied Khalaf, a teacher in Tikrit, told Xinhua
by telephone.
"I vehemently denounce the verdict because it was a US-sponsored
show and would only serve to threaten unity of the Iraqi people,"
he said.
Iraqi Sunnis also slammed the sentencing as a political showcase
for US and Iraqi governments to cover their incompetence to make
any progress on the ground.
"The court sentenced Saddam to death for killing 148 people, but
who is going to prosecute the leaders responsible for everyday
killing now?" said a Sunni Arab, who only identified himself as
Ismail.
"I feel sorry for Saddam, and we didn't support him during his
rule. But given what we have seen since he was toppled, it has
become clear to us that he was the best man in the world,"
46-year-old Imad Mahmoud said.
"The death verdict against President Saddam was not surprising
as it was given for the benefit of (George W.) Bush in the
congressional election," Hassan al-Dulaimi said.
Mohammed al-Dulaimi, a shop owner, warned that more sectarian
bloodshed could come with the sentencing, because "Saddam will
remain a symbol for all Iraqis as he refused to concede to the
Americans."
Meanwhile, Iraqi Prime Minister's media office announced the
Iraqi government will lift a curfew imposed on Baghdad and two
other provinces on Tuesday morning.
The imposed curfew on pedestrians was lifted since 4:00 PM
(13:00 GMT) and the full lift of the curfew will start from 6:00 AM
(03:00 GMT) on Tuesday morning, the office said in a statement.
The Iraqi government imposed curfew on Baghdad and two
neighboring provinces Diyala and Salahudin from 6 AM (03:00 GMT) on
Sunday hours before the Iraqi High Tribunal sentenced Saddam and
two of his senior aides to death by hang.
(Xinhua News Agency November 7, 2006)
