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Saddam gives security, Baath party power to kill opponents
President Saddam Hussein has ordered his security services and members of his ruling Baath party to shoot and kill anyone suspected of planning "hostile action" against his government. Most party members, who according to official statistics number about one million, carry guns and mount armed patrols in residential neighborhoods throughout the country. But their loyalty is not certain as many of them pointed their guns at Saddam's troops during uprisings that took place shortly after the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait. A source said Saddam has taken the precautionary measures to prevent a repetition of the post-Gulf War uprising, which saw the collapse of his administration in 14 out of Iraq's 18 provinces. We do tend to forget how close we actually came to seeing the back of him, don't we? Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-06-20 |
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