Shi’ite Muslims demand Saddam’s execution

BAGHDAD – Thousands of Shi’ite Muslims marched through Baghdad yesterday, clamouring for Saddam Hussein’s execution in the latest show of strength by a community repressed for decades by the former dictator.

“Saddam is a war criminal, not a POW … execute Saddam,” the 5 000-strong crowd chanted. It was believed to be the first public demonstration in Iraq to demand death for Saddam since he was captured by US forces on December 13.Also yesterday, a similar protest by hundreds of Shi’ites was held in the southern Shi’ite city of Najaf.The rallies were far smaller than one on Monday in which nearly 100 000 Shi’ites marched in the Iraqi capital to demand early, direct elections, rejecting a US blueprint for handing over power on July 1 to an unelected Iraqi provisional government.Faced with the growing Shi’ite opposition, the United States asked the United Nations on Monday to send a team to Iraq to see if elections could be held.US officials hope the team would conclude that early elections are not feasible and convince a top Shi’ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, to drop his demand for speedy elections.UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was considering the US request.Shi’ites are believed to comprise 60 per cent of Iraq’s 25 million people but had virtually no share of power during the 35-year rule by Saddam’s Sunni dominated government.Thousands of Shi’ites were executed during his regime, which was ousted by the United States in April.”Since the fall of Saddam, we got our total freedom.We call for the execution of Saddam the infidel, who killed our sons and kept them in mass graves,” said Karima Hanoun (40), speaking through her black veil.She said 11 members of her family were executed by Saddam.”Every good Muslim woman and every honest human being wants Saddam to be executed.How can America make him a POW?” asked Samira Hassan (43), from Sadr City, a predominantly Shi’ite neighbourhood of eastern Baghdad.POW status under the Geneva Conventions grants Saddam certain rights including freedom from coercion and a guarantee that he can be tried only by an international tribunal or the occupying power.A statement by the demonstrators said Saddam should be tried by an Iraqi court for crimes against humanity.”We emphasise our rejection and condemnation of the unjust American decision” to term him a prisoner of war, it said.”Did America forget, or is forgetting the screams of the children, orphans, and the tears of women who are crying at the graves of their sons and husbands?” the statement said.Protesters also voiced their objections to the ongoing discussion among Iraqi leaders about transforming Iraq into a federal state.Many Shi’ites and Sunnis fear it would break up Iraq and grant virtual freedom to the northern Kurds, another community suppressed by Saddam.The Shi’ites have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, especially in the Shi’ite dominated southern Iraq.But most of their demonstrations have been to oppose the power transfer plan.Thousands marched in the Shi’ite holy city of Karbala yesterday to demand elections and to denounce the US presence in Iraq.Much of the Shi’ite show of force has emerged after al-Sistani, the country’s most prominent Shi’ite cleric, issued a public demand earlier this month for early elections.Al-Sistani (75) also wants an elected assembly to ratify security accords governing the presence of coalition troops after July 1 as well an interim constitution to take effect until a final charter can be drafted and ratified in 2005.The United States says there isn’t enough time to hold free and fair elections in such a short time because of the precarious security situation, the absence of an election law and the lack of voter rolls.But it also cannot afford to alienate a community that has so far avoided attacks on coalition forces like their Sunni countrymen.Under an agreement promulgated on November 15, Iraqis won’t have a direct vote until next year when they choose delegates to draft a permanent constitution.They will vote twice again in 2005, once to ratify the new constitution and again to elect a new assembly.- Nampa-APIt was believed to be the first public demonstration in Iraq to demand death for Saddam since he was captured by US forces on December 13. Also yesterday, a similar protest by hundreds of Shi’ites was held in the southern Shi’ite city of Najaf. The rallies were far smaller than one on Monday in which nearly 100 000 Shi’ites marched in the Iraqi capital to demand early, direct elections, rejecting a US blueprint for handing over power on July 1 to an unelected Iraqi provisional government. Faced with the growing Shi’ite opposition, the United States asked the United Nations on Monday to send a team to Iraq to see if elections could be held. US officials hope the team would conclude that early elections are not feasible and convince a top Shi’ite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, to drop his demand for speedy elections. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was considering the US request. Shi’ites are believed to comprise 60 per cent of Iraq’s 25 million people but had virtually no share of power during the 35-year rule by Saddam’s Sunni dominated government. Thousands of Shi’ites were executed during his regime, which was ousted by the United States in April. “Since the fall of Saddam, we got our total freedom. We call for the execution of Saddam the infidel, who killed our sons and kept them in mass graves,” said Karima Hanoun (40), speaking through her black veil. She said 11 members of her family were executed by Saddam. “Every good Muslim woman and every honest human being wants Saddam to be executed. How can America make him a POW?” asked Samira Hassan (43), from Sadr City, a predominantly Shi’ite neighbourhood of eastern Baghdad. POW status under the Geneva Conventions grants Saddam certain rights including freedom from coercion and a guarantee that he can be tried only by an international tribunal or the occupying power. A statement by the demonstrators said Saddam should be tried by an Iraqi court for crimes against humanity. “We emphasise our rejection and condemnation of the unjust American decision” to term him a prisoner of war, it said. “Did America forget, or is forgetting the screams of the children, orphans, and the tears of women who are crying at the graves of their sons and husbands?” the statement said. Protesters also voiced their objections to the ongoing discussion among Iraqi leaders about transforming Iraq into a federal state. Many Shi’ites and Sunnis fear it would break up Iraq and grant virtual freedom to the northern Kurds, another community suppressed by Saddam. The Shi’ites have become increasingly vocal in recent weeks, especially in the Shi’ite dominated southern Iraq. But most of their demonstrations have been to oppose the power transfer plan. Thousands marched in the Shi’ite holy city of Karbala yesterday to demand elections and to denounce the US presence in Iraq. Much of the Shi’ite show of force has emerged after al-Sistani, the country’s most prominent Shi’ite cleric, issued a public demand earlier this month for early elections. Al-Sistani (75) also wants an elected assembly to ratify security accords governing the presence of coalition troops after July 1 as well an interim constitution to take effect until a final charter can be drafted and ratified in 2005. The United States says there isn’t enough time to hold free and fair elections in such a short time because of the precarious security situation, the absence of an election law and the lack of voter rolls. But it also cannot afford to alienate a community that has so far avoided attacks on coalition forces like their Sunni countrymen. Under an agreement promulgated on November 15, Iraqis won’t have a direct vote until next year when they choose delegates to draft a permanent constitution. They will vote twice again in 2005, once to ratify the new constitution and again to elect a new assembly. – Nampa-AP