Hussein’s Hometown Wishes Him Happy Birthday and a Long Reign

Saddam Hussein’s hometown celebrated his 54th birthday Sunday with music, traditional dances and official predictions that he will be president for a long time to come.

About 3,000 people attended the celebration, only a fraction of the usual 100,000 who come from all over the country. One organizer blamed transportation difficulties in the war-ravaged country.

It was one of many events throughout Iraq to honor Hussein on his first birthday since the Gulf War brought Iraq to military defeat and close to economic ruin.

Government officials who attended the celebration in Tikrit said Hussein remains popular despite the trauma of war.

“The West would have to kill 18 million Iraqis before they could wound Saddam Hussein,” said Izzat Ibrahim, deputy chairman of the nation’s ruling Revolutionary Command Council.

“What happened in the last nine months to Iraq and President Saddam Hussein proves he is a legitimate leader and accepted and loved by the Iraqi people,” Ibrahim said.

“He will be president for a long, long time,” said Abdul Razzaq Hashemi, the minister of higher education and a former ambassador to France.

The officials spoke to a group of foreign journalists on a government-sponsored trip to report the celebration.

Hussein himself, meanwhile, toured Baghdad, at one point getting out of his car to shake hands, according to state-run Baghdad Radio.

“The sons of the city were happy with the president’s tour, and they welcomed him with clapping and singing, expressing their trust in a happy and bright future under his leadership,” the radio said.