IRAQ: VIEWS OF UNFINISHED LUXURY HOUSE AND BOAT CLUB BELONGING TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S SON UDAY.

Record ID: 229810

  • Title: IRAQ: VIEWS OF UNFINISHED LUXURY HOUSE AND BOAT CLUB BELONGING TO SADDAM HUSSEIN'S SON UDAY.
  • Date: 2nd May 2003
  • Summary: (W3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (MAY 1, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. UNFINISHED HOUSE ORIGINALLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION FOR THE WIFE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S SON UDAY 2. DOMES ON UNFINISHED HOUSE 3. WEALTHY HOUSES IN THE AREA WHERE SADDAM HUSSEIN FAMILY, FRIENDS AND MINISTERS USED TO LIVE 4. EXTERIOR OF UDAY'S BOAT CLUB 5. PANEL ON THE FRONT OF THE CLUB 6. VARIOUS OF DAMAGED CLUB INTERIORS 7. MORE DAMAGE INSIDE THE CLUB INSIDE CONCERT AREA 8. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL KHATANI, CLUB STAFF, SAYING: "There would usually be a group of prostitutes here with us and the maids would also be here. Whenever he came (Uday) all of the staff had to be ready to welcome him. It was more like a resthouse. There were always disc jockeys and singers and sometimes there was an announcement on the television, a subtitle on the screen, asking for a guitarist to come to the radio station in Al Salhiya at once together with his instruments in case any of the girls wanted to listen to guitar he would call and some one had to come, even if it was after midnight." 9. MORE OF DAMAGED CLUB 10. OUTSIDE VIEW OF BROKEN CLUB WINDOW 11. BOAT ON RIVER BANK 12. EXTERIOR BOAT CLUB/ BROKEN STATUE OF A GIRL 13. VARIOUS OF BROKEN STATUE 14. U.S. SOLDIERS LEAVING THE BOAT CLUB Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 17th May 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA2FFHFAUGNB1C4HY43P05V9TQI
  • Story Text: The once private and luxurious riverside compound of
    Saddam Hussein's family and friends, is now open to anyone who
    wants to see how the rich and powerful elite used to live
    under his regime. Saddam's son Uday, whose boat club is in the
    area, has been described as decadent and despotic by one man
    who used to work for him.



    The fairy tale house with its magical domes stands
    unfinished by the Tigris river.

    Saddam Hussein's son Uday was building it for his wife in
    Al Jaderya, a wealthy district of Iraq's capital city Baghdad,
    situated close to Baghdad's ordinary public.

    Most Iraqis suffered the worst years of their lives under
    Saddam Hussein, struggling through several wars and 12 years
    of international sanctions.

    So it is no wonder that this wealthy part of town,
    reserved for Saddam's family, friends and ministers, was
    shielded from the public eye.

    Today, anyone can drive through the quiet, tree lined
    streets and gaze at the buildings that once housed the
    country's powerful elite and the ruling family's courtisans.

    Amongst them is the Boat Club, a resting place for Uday
    and his circle.

    There is little left of what was once a luxurious
    playground for the dictator's son. Iraqis looted palaces,
    ministries, museums and homes across the city soon after the
    city fell to U.S. forces.

    One man who used to work at the boat house, Al Khatani,
    says Uday lived the life of a playboy whose every wish would
    be granted.

    He says he would often be surrounded by women and friends
    and when a musician was needed Uday's staff would call up
    state television and tell them to advertise for one during
    programming using subtitles.

    "There would usually be a group of prostitutes here with
    us and the maids would also be here. Whenever he came (Uday)
    all of the staff had to be ready to welcome him. It was more
    like a resthouse. There were always disc jockeys and singers
    and sometimes there was an announcement on the television, a
    subtitle on the screen, asking for a guitarist to come to the
    radio station in Al Salhiya at once together with his
    instruments in case any of the girls wanted to listen to
    guitar he would call and some one had to come, even if it was
    after midnight," Al Khatani says.

    Other homes in this compound, now guarded by U.S. troops
    included one for Saddam's youngest daughter Hallah.

    Many have been taken over now by political organisations
    like the Iraq National Council (INC), a group of political
    exiles headed by Washington favourite Ahmed Chalabi.

    Another has been taken over by the Kurdish PUK party -- it
    was the home of Abid Hammoud, a top secret guard of Saddam.


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