Massive Anti-America Protest following Saddam's Hanging

Patna: December 31, 2006

People of Patna, backed by a number of political and students outfits, wasted no time in showing their displeasure over the hanging death of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussain by staging protests, rallies, and burning the effigies of American president George W. Bush on Saturday.

Calling the event 'unfortunate', Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said Saddam should have been imprisoned for life instead of being killed in such barbaric fashion.

He also appealed to the Muslim community to maintain peace and not be swayed by emotional outbursts.

Tariq Anwar, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state general secretary said America acted in a bullish manner by condemning Saddam Hussain to death. "America's repeated attempt to dominate the world is a matter of grave concern for all peace-loving country," Anwar said.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Shakeel Ahmed Khan described Saddam's hanging as 'murder committed in cold blood" and a violation of international laws.

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leaders called the event 'inhuman' and urged all human rights organizations to wage a war against the 'growing American dictatorship'.

Different political and religious outfits including RJD, Edara-e-Sharia, and left parties took out rallies and burnt the effigies of George W Bush.

The Sharia took out a massive rally in Sultanganj that also got support from LJP, RJD, and Congress leaders in the state. The rally, after crossing through Ashok Rajpath, reached at Kargil Chowk near Gandhi Maidan where the protestors chanted anti-Bush and anti-America rally and burnt the effigy of the American president.

Another rally was taken out by the Socialist Unit Center of India (SUCI) activists which started at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk and after crossing through Dak Bungalow crossing reached Patna Junction roundabout where Bush's effigy was burnt.

CPI-ML also took out a rally from party's headquarters to the railway station where activists demanded death to Bush and ouster of American troops from Iraq.

Saddam Hussain was put to death by hanging in an Iraqi facility. An Iraqi court earlier had found the former dictator to be guilty of committing crimes against humanity.