Iraqis Celebrate Saddam's Birthday

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, April 29, 2002

Iraqis Celebrate Saddam's Birthday

Millions of Iraqis on Sunday took to the streets throughout the country to celebrate the 65th birthday of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein who has ruled Iraq since 1979.

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Millions of Iraqis on Sunday took to the streets throughout the country to celebrate the 65th birthday of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein who has ruled Iraq since 1979.

In Saddam's hometown Tikrit, the capital of Salahuddin Province and 170 kilometers north of Baghdad, tens of thousands of people, holding Saddam's portraits, banners, color ribbons and drums, took part in a parade that lasted for over four hours.

Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramada, Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, Ali Hassan Majid, member of Iraq's decision-making Revolutionary Command Council, and a number of cabinet ministers, were present at the celebrating ceremony.

"Congratulations, Mr. President, it is our day," "Saddam, our choice," "Saddam, man of promise," "We will not accept any leader except Saddam Hussein," the banners read.

"We come to celebrate our president's birthday and express our happiness on this occasion and our challenge toward our enemy," Osama Mohammad, a student of the Tikrit University, told Xinhua,

"I want to send a message to (U.S. President George W.) Bush that we are not afraid of any U.S. threats of attacks," he said, referring to U.S. threats of toppling the Saddam regime.

He was echoed by Omar Abdullah from western Anbar Province. " Saddam is our leader and he will stay with us forever," he said.

To the cheers of the paraders, Majid, who presided over the celebrations, cut the ribbon of the ceremony in front of a 3.5- meter-long, sunflower-shaped cake for Saddam, who was absent from the celebrations.

A miniature of Saddam riding on a horse and pointing a sword in the direction of the al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine, was a birthday present to Saddam by Salahuddin Province.

The miniature, which was two meters long, 1.5 meters wide and one meter high, was made of 0.6 kilograms of gold and 67.4 kilograms of silver, according to Mohammad Haleifa, one of the organizing officials.

The celebrations started several days ago and are expected to last until the end of this month.

In addition to Tikrit, huge celebrations were also held in Baghdad as the Iraqi capital has been in a festive mood days before the annual event.

Saddam's portraits can be seen everywhere in Baghdad and color ribbons, flags and banners drape at the entrances of shops and restaurants.

Saddam, who was born on April 28, 1937, has held an array of posts including president, prime minister, secretary general of the ruling Arab Baath Socialist Party and general commander of the armed forces.

This year's celebrations of Saddam's birthday has taken on an extra significance as U.S. President Bush has branded Saddam an " evil" man and threatened to topple his 22-year rule.

Saddam himself is usually absent from the celebrations and official Iraqi media often reports that he spent his birthday with a group of school children at an undisclosed location.

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