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Iraqi Council Makes Day of Saddamâs Fall a Holiday
(EFL)BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq (news - web sites)âs new Governing Council said Sunday its first decisions were to cancel all holidays related to Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and his outlawed Baath Party and to declare April 9, the day of his downfall, a national holiday. ..... Coinciding with the move to outlaw public holidays with links to Saddam, U.S. forces have launched Operation Ivy Serpent against militants suspected of planning attacks on upcoming anniversaries related to him, the U.S. military said Sunday. It said it has intelligence that assailants are planning attacks to coincide with anniversaries including a July 14 coup in 1958 against the British-backed monarchy; Saddam assuming the presidency on July 16, 1979; and a revolution staged by his Baath Party on July 17, 1968. Saddamâs birthday, April 28. Among the public holidays celebrated in prewar Iraq was Saddamâs birthday, April 28. Iraqâs 4th of July Posted by: raptor 2003-07-13 |
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