Saddam's sentence shows up Iraq's divisions

BAGHDAD, Nov 5 (Reuters) Iraqis' reactions to the death sentence against Saddam Hussein today reflected the sectarian divisions that erupted into violence after the US invasion that overthrew him in 2003.

Women ululated and men fired shots in the air to celebrate in majority Shi'ite cities while in Sunni Arab towns faces were grim and men were angry at what many described as a ''political'' verdict.

An electricity shortage kept Iraqis in the northern city of Mosul from following the televised broadcast of the sentence so dozens took to the streets in the early hours, anxious to know the verdict.

After being told of the death sentence by a reporter, Bahjat, a Sunni Arab in Mosul, asked: ''So they sentenced him to death for the killings that happened when he was a president. Who is going to sentence the leaders now for the everyday killings that are happening in the country?'' Others questioned whether Saddam's death would bring back vital services like electricity and clean drinking water and, above all, stability and security to Iraq.

''Things were difficult under Saddam, we understand why. But now what is their excuse? Why can't we have electricity? Security? Why can't we have proper schools for our children?'' said Abu Yasser, 30, in Mosul.

In the flashpoint town of Baquba, hundreds defied a curfew to protest the verdict and police fired warning shots, wounding one person, police said.

In Saddam's hometown of Tikrit, several dozen people, mostly teenagers, chanted songs supporting Saddam and raised his picture as they marched in the streets, watched closely by Iraqi police.

''The sentence against President Saddam will make the situation deteriorate more,'' said tribal leader Mohammad al-Dulaimi, 55, in Ramadi, capital of the Sunni province of Anbar.

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