VARIOUS: ISRAEL CONGRATULATES UNITED STATES ON CAPTURE OF FORMER IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN

Record ID: 337950

  • Title: VARIOUS: ISRAEL CONGRATULATES UNITED STATES ON CAPTURE OF FORMER IRAQI PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN
  • Date: 16th December 2003
  • Summary: (W6) JERUSALEM (DECEMBER 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. MV ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON MEETING WITH MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY COUNCIL OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 0.12 2. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SHARON SAYING "About two hours ago I spoke with President (George W.) Bush and I congratulated him on the successful operation which led to the capture of Saddam Hussein. Today is a great day for the democratic world, for the fighters of freedom and justice and for those who fight against terror. We are relieved the this murderer and dictator can no longer stand in the way of the rebuilding and reconstruction of the country he destroyed. I congratulated the president on his firm and courageous stand against global terror. We believe the entire non democratic world especially those engaged in terror will learn from this lesson." 1.17 3. MV SHARON AT MEETING 1.23 (W6) KHAN YOUNIS, SOUTHERN GAZA (DECEMBER 14, 2003) (REUTERS) 4. HAS PALESTINIANS CARRYING POSTERS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN; MV/SCU PALESTINIAN RALLYING/ CARRYING POSTERS OF SADDAM HUSSEIN; PALESTINIANS CHANTING IN SUPPORT OF SADDAM (5 SHOTS) 2.00 5. MV PALESTINIANS BURNING AMERICAN AND ISRAELI FLAG 2.30 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 31st December 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM/KHAN YOUNIS, SOUTHERN GAZA
  • City:
  • Country: Gaza Jerusalem
  • Reuters ID: LVAAH4ERA1R5XPAXVI5565PSX18N
  • Story Text: Israel congratulates U.S. on Saddam capture.

    Palestinians rally in support of former Iraqi leader.

    Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said on Sunday
    (December 14) the United States' capture of Iraqi leader
    Saddam Hussein was "a great day for the democratic world".

    Sharon said he made the comments in a telephone call to
    U.S. President George W. Bush in which he congratulated him
    for the capture of Saddam by U.S. forces in Iraq.

    "We believe the entire non democratic world especially
    those engaged in terror will learn from this lesson,"
    Sharon told reporters.

    The capture of the fugitive former Iraqi leader was a
    major coup for the U.S. campaign in Iraq which has been
    beleaguered by guerrilla attacks on its forces and Iraqis
    working for the U.S. occupation forces.

    In the Southern Gaza Strip, Palestinians marched in the
    street carrying posters of Saddam Hussein hours after the
    news broke that the former Iraqi leader had been captured.

    Saddam was a hero to many Palestinians for his stand
    against Israel and its U.S. ally, as well as for helping
    families of Palestinians dead in an uprising.

    There was no immediate reaction from Palestinian
    President Yasser Arafat or his government.

    Arafat himself had opposed the 1991 Gulf War that
    ousted Saddam's forces from Kuwait. Palestinians cheered
    when Iraqi Scud missiles crashed into Israeli cities.


  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register