IRAQ: WHILE IRAQIS REMEMBER JULY 17TH AS ANNIVERSARY OF 1968 REVOLUTION THAT BROUGHT BA'ATH PARTY TO POWER MANY PEOPLE REALISE PERMANENT CHANGE HAS COME TO IRAQ

Record ID: 647896

  • Title: IRAQ: WHILE IRAQIS REMEMBER JULY 17TH AS ANNIVERSARY OF 1968 REVOLUTION THAT BROUGHT BA'ATH PARTY TO POWER MANY PEOPLE REALISE PERMANENT CHANGE HAS COME TO IRAQ
  • Date: 18th July 2003
  • Summary: (W3) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JULY 17, 2003)(REUTERS) 1. SLV STREET SCENES; SLV /MV PEOPLE READING NEWSPAPERS (7 SHOTS) 0.41 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ADEL KARIM, IRAQI CITIZEN SAYING: "Actually, Saddam is dead (no longer coming back to assume power) and every thing is over. He is no longer able to trigger a revolution. And even if he comes back, what can he do." 1.05 3. SLV STREET; SCU CHARICATURES OF SADDAM HUSSEIN (4 SHOTS) 1.24 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ALI HUSSEIN, IRAQI CITIZEN SAYING "The U.S forces have reduced their presence in the streets in anticipation of more attacks targeting them on this occasion (anniversary of July 17, 1968 revolution)." 1.40 5. SLV BUILDING PREVIOUSLY HEADQUARTERS OF BA'ATH PARTY; MV BANNER READING: 'OUR PEOPLE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE FORCES OF LIBERATION, THE IRAQI NATIONAL ACCORD' (4 SHOTS) 2.02 6. SLV CHECKPOINTS RUN BY IRAQI POLICEMEN ONLY (NO AMERICAN TROOPS IN STREETS); SLV IRAQI POLICEMEN CHECKING FOR STOLEN CARS (8 SHOTS) 2.40 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 2nd August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA5DTMKS5JL81Z684CX6V9F3CLP
  • Story Text: While Iraqis remember July 17th as the anniversary of
    the 1968 revolution that brought the Ba'ath party to power,
    with Saddam Hussein's regime swept from office many people
    realise that permanent change has come to Iraq.

    Meanwhile, Iraqi policemen have set up checkpoints alone
    without the assistance of U.S soldiers, looking for stolen
    cars.

    Thursday (July 17, 2003) is passing this year without Saddam
    and without the celebrations that formerly marked the 1968
    revolution that brought the Ba'ath party to power. One Baghdad
    resident said Saddam had died, "Actually, Saddam is dead (no
    longer coming back to assume power) and every thing is over.

    He is no longer able to trigger a revolution. And even he is
    coming back, what can he do?" said Adel Karim.

    On July 17, 1968, a bloodless coup brought to power the
    Ba'ath party. The revolution in Iraq was led by Ba'athist
    general Ahmad Hassan al-Bakr.

    In July 1979, Saddam Hussein assumed power succeeding
    al-Bakr who was suffering from chronic disease that made him
    unable to continue with his function as President of the
    Republic of Iraq.

    The Iraqi branch of the Ba'ath Party was established in
    1954.

    After twenty-four years coalition troops were able to
    dislodge Saddam Hussein from power on April 9.

    But attacks against coalition forces continue. In a marked
    escalation in attacks, suspected insurgents tried to shoot
    down a U.S. transport plane with a surface-to-air missile on
    Wednesday (July 16), killed an American soldier in a convoy
    and gunned down the mayor of an Iraqi city west of Baghdad.

    Some Iraqis believe that the U.S. forces have become
    scarcer in Baghdad because of worries over attacks on the
    anniversary of Revolution Day.

    Ali Hussein said, "The U.S forces have reduced their
    presence in the streets in anticipation of more attacks
    targeting them on this occasion."
    Meanwhile early on Thursday (July 17), Iraqi police set up
    several checkpoints looking for stolen cars and illegal
    weapons without assistance from U.S. forces.


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