IRAQ: THE PEOPLE OF TIKRIT HAVE SPOKEN OF THEIR SADNESS AT THE CAPTURE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN

Record ID: 649153

  • Title: IRAQ: THE PEOPLE OF TIKRIT HAVE SPOKEN OF THEIR SADNESS AT THE CAPTURE OF SADDAM HUSSEIN
  • Date: 15th December 2003
  • Summary: (U3) OUJA (SOUTH OF TIKRIT), IRAQ (DECEMBER 15, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. LV/SV/SLV GROUP OF YOUTHS SHOUTING PRO-SADDAM SLOGANS (4 SHOTS) 0.24 2. SLV WOMAN AND CHILDREN WATCHING DEMONSTRATORS 0.30 3. MCU (Arabic) BASHAR AL-NASER SAYING "My feeling, like the feeling of all Ouja residents, we are sad. We feel sorrow because all of us love Saddam Hussein." 0.52 4. SLV OF U.S. SOLDIERS SEARCHING CARS (4 SHOTS) 1.19 (W3) TIKRIT, IRAQ (DECEMBER 15, 2003) (REUTERS) 5. LV/SV TRAFFIC ON THE STREETS OF TIKRIT; POLICE OFFICER DIRECTING TRAFFIC; PEOPLE STANDING ON STREETS (5 SHOTS) 1.49 6. MCU (Arabic) NASRAT OMAR SAYING "The Iraqi president is a brave man and he is the knight of the Arab nation. It is regrettable that the Iraqis are the ones who handed him over to the Americans. If he had to be handed he should be handed over to the Governing Council and not to the Americans. Saddam was captured by treason and through anaesthetisation." 2.12 7. LV CARS ON STREETS (2 SHOTS) 2.27 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 30th December 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: OUJA AND TIKRIT, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVACAR803DICM9CU7MB5I5A60F0Y
  • Story Text: The people of Tikrit have spoken of their sadness at the capture of Saddam Hussein.



    A group of around 30 youths took to the streets of
    Ouja, south of Tikrit, on Monday (December 15) to shout
    their support for captured former Iraqi President Saddam
    Hussein.

    Residents of Ouja, Saddam Hussein's birth place,
    received the news of the former dictator's arrest with
    sadness.

    Local resident Bashar Al-Naser said: "My feeling, like
    the feeling of all Ouja residents, we are sad. We feel
    sorrow because all of us love Saddam Hussein."
    There was no let-up in the security operations
    conducted by U.S. troops at various checkpoints in the town.

    Joy at the capture of Saddam Hussein in Iraq gave way
    to resentment towards Washington on Monday as Iraqis
    confronted afresh the bloodshed, shortages and soaring
    prices of life under U.S. occupation.

    The morning after Iraq's U.S. governor revealed the
    ousted strongman had been taken prisoner, Iraqis flooded
    the streets to snatch up newspapers emblazoned with photos
    of the man who ruled them by fear, now humbled and captive.

    Many were ecstatic to see Saddam in the dock and hoped
    he would answer for his deeds but said they would not rush
    to thank America - in their eyes the source of their
    problems since a U.S.-led coalition toppled Saddam in
    April.

    Some residents of Tikrit spoke of the "treason" of
    those who had given American forces information as to
    Saddam's whereabouts leading to his arrest on Saturday
    (December 13).

    Nasrat Omar called Saddam a "brave man" and "the knight
    of the Arab nation." He said it was "regrettable that the
    Iraqis are the ones who handed him over to the Americans."
    He added: "If he had to be handed he should be handed over
    to the Governing Council and not to the Americans. Saddam
    was captured by treason and through anaesthetisation."
    Saddam Hussein was in custody on Monday at an
    undisclosed location where he was facing lengthy
    interrogation following his dramatic capture by US forces.

    The former dictator was seized without a shot being
    fired when he was finally cornered hiding in a hole in the
    ground near his home town of Tikrit.


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