Saddam died to taunts of 'Muqtada, Muqtada'

BY MOHAMAD BAZZI | MIDDLE EAST CORRESPONDENT

January 1, 2007

BEIRUT, Lebanon - After the noose was tied around Saddam Hussein's neck, several witnesses at his execution Saturday shouted: "Muqtada, Muqtada, Muqtada."

It was a reference to the renegade Shia cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who commands one of the most feared militias in Iraq today and has emerged as the country's Shia strongman. The images and sounds of the cleric's supporters taunting Hussein in his final moments were captured on video and broadcast yesterday around the Arab world.

The video, which was posted on several Web sites and aired round-the-clock on the Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya satellite channels, is likely to reinforce the notion among Sunnis that Iraq's Shia-dominated government went out of its way to humiliate Hussein and the entire Sunni community.

Hussein was executed at the start of Eid Al-Adha, the holiest of Muslim holidays, infuriating the Sunni minority that formed the core of his regime and now is driving the insurgency.

"This footage is going to antagonize Sunnis throughout the Middle East," said an Arab diplomat involved in Iraq policy. "It's one thing for Sunnis to read about al-Sadr's followers gloating. It's far more upsetting to watch and hear them do it."

Hussein's execution came at a precarious time for the 8-month-old unity government in Baghdad. U.S. officials spent months persuading Sunni parties to join the cabinet of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. But in recent months, militiamen loyal to al-Sadr and another Shia political party have used the Interior Ministry's security forces to abduct and kill Sunnis. Al-Sadr controls one of the largest blocs in the Iraqi parliament, and he was instrumental in backing al-Maliki for the premiership.

With al-Sadr's supporters apparently directing the execution, Sunnis are likely to blame them for its timing, the diplomat said. Throughout the Sunni-dominated Middle East, relations between Sunnis and Shias are badly strained by the sectarian bloodletting in Iraq. Sunnis are also worried about the regional ascendance of Shia-led Iran, its growing influence on the Iraqi leadership and its involvement in other countries with large Shia communities, especially Lebanon.

The grainy two-and-a half-minute video, which appears to have been recorded on a cell phone by one of the witnesses, shows Hussein being led to the gallows by three men wearing leather jackets and ski masks. On Saturday, Iraqi state TV broadcast similar footage, but it did not have sound, and it cut off before the actual execution.

As the noose was placed around his neck, Hussein exclaimed, "I rely on God."

A group of men standing below the gallows chanted a common Shia prayer, "May God bless the Prophet Muhammad and his descendants."

Several people then shouted, "Muqtada, Muqtada, Muqtada."

Hussein, appearing calm and defiant, smiled at those taunting him. "Muqtada? Is this your idea of manhood?" he asked, his voice shaking slightly.

"Go to hell," a witness shouted in response.

"Long live Muhammad Bakr al-Sadr," another witness yelled, referring to a revered Shia ayatollah -- and Muqtada's uncle -- who was executed by Hussein's regime in 1980. The elder al-Sadr founded the Dawa Party, of which the current prime minister is a senior leader.

"Go to hell," another voice shouted.

Then someone made an appeal for the witnesses to stop taunting Hussein: "I beg you. The man is facing execution. Please don't do this."

As the room fell quiet, Hussein began reciting the "Shahada," the Muslim affirmation of faith that says, "There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His messenger." He made it midway through his second recitation of the prayer; his last word was Muhammad.

With a loud thud, the floor dropped out of the gallows.

"The tyrant has fallen," one of the witnesses shouted, as others recited prayers.

With commotion in the background, the video showed a close-up of Hussein's face as he swung from the rope.

Then came another voice: "Let him swing there."

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