US dividing the Muslims over Saddam episode

Jammu, Nov 8 (UNI) National Conference patron and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah today accused the United States (US) and the western world of dividing Muslims over death penalty to deposed Iragi President Saddam Hussein.

Talking to mediapersons here this evening in a 'Diwali and eid milan' programme, he said the situation in iraq was much better under the regime of Saddam than what it has become now.

''Under Saddam Hussein Iraq was peaceful and the people were happy but after the US invasion the circumstances have changed for worse,'' he said.

''The US war on global terrorism was taking a definite shape and the ground reality is that 'one does not know what will happen within next 24 hours.'', he said.

Strongly flaying the militancy, he said in the name of Islam and Jehad militant groups and separatists had amassed fortune. They received enormous funds from across the border for creating unrest and violence which had led to death and destruction, he added.

He lambasted separatists for encouraging those who had indulged in violence and asked, ''Does islam permit such acts?'' Governor Lt Gen SK Sinha and other dignitaries participated in the function.

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