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Saddam execution amounts to Iraqis victory: Asefi

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Dec 30, IRNA
Iran-Asefi-Saddam

Deputy Foreign Minister for Parliamentary and Consular Affairs Hamid-Reza Asefi said here Saturday that execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was equal to the victory of the Iraqi people as they had been the winners of his fall.

Asefi made the remark while commenting on the execution of the former Iraqi dictator who was hanged in Baghdad Saturday morning.

"Saddam's regime was overthrown because the Iraqi people did not support him. It is crystal clear that the US (administration) should not misinterpret his fall and take the credit to itself.

"No one should be accountable for Saddam's execution," he told IRNA.

Pointing to crimes committed by the former Iraqi president in domestic and international dimensions, Asefi added, "War on Iran led to a split in the Islamic world and of serious problems with respect to unity among Muslims."

He said the Iraqi war on Kuwait dealt another blow on the Arab world and further deepened discord in the Arab world, adding, "The war weakened the Arab front.

"When the Arab and Islamic fronts were weakened, the Zionist regime took the most advantage (of the situation). This left the Palestinians in the worst situation, aggravating their condition and intensifying their difficulties.

"On internal affairs, Saddam put massacre of Shi'ites on his agenda. In a broader dimension, he masterminded plans for killing Kurds and sowing discord between Shi'ites and Sunnis."

In response to a question on insecurity in Iraq, Asefi said, "Insecurity in Iraq is the aftermath of evil policies of Saddam which have been implemented under the US recommendation.

"The US was the main motive behind Saddam's crimes."

He stated that Saddam's trial merely dealt with one of his crimes, that is crimes against the Muslim population of the town of Dujail, north of Baghdad, in 1982.

"Saddam's case was closed soon. If the cases of wars on Iran and Kuwait had been also examined, the US alliance and role would have been disclosed.

"So, Washington tried to end the case with the investigation into Saddam's crimes in Dujail."

Asked about insecurity in Iraq after Saddam's execution, he said, "Arrest of Saddam escalated insecurity. It is predictable that his execution will cause more insecurity for a short period of time."

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