Massive protests in MP against Saddam hanging

Bhopal, Dec 30 (UNI) Dubbing as 'barbaric'' the hanging of former Iraq President Saddam Hussain, Left parties and Muslims today held demonstrations across Madhya Pradesh and burnt US President George Bush in effigy.

Police was alerted across the state to keep a strict vigil to avert any untoward incident, particularly in view of the Id-ul-Zuha festival on Monday, Inspector General of Police Ashok Soni said.

In the Muslim-dominated Itwara area in the state capital, CPI workers and Muslims held demonstrations separately and burnt effigies of the US President.

At Neemuch town in western Madhya Pradesh, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions, currently holding its state convention, adopted a resolution condemning the 'barbaric' incident, terming it as a frontal attack on the judiciary and sovereignity.

''It showed the extent to which US could go to monopolise petroleum and other resources across the world,'' CITU state General Secretary Badal Saroj said and urged other trade unions to stage protests against American ''criminal misadventures''.

The CITU workers also took out a rally that culminated into a public meeting. CITU National Secretary and former CPI(M) MP Dipankar Mukherjee, in his address, urged the Indian government to take a strong stand against the ''US onslaught on secular Iraq,'' a traditional ally of India.

Reports from different districts said Muslims held protests against Saddam's hanging on the eve of Bakrid.

UNI Team-SP RR BD1650