Saddam's execution triggers mass protests; India disappointed

New Delhi, Dec 30 (UNI) The execution of Saddam Hussein today triggered mass protests in India even as the government expressed disappointment over the deposed Iraqi leader's hanging and various political parties slammed the action.

India hoped the execution of Saddam would not affect the process of reconciliation, and restoration of peace and normalcy in Iraq.

''We had already expressed the hope that the execution would not be carried out. We are disappointed that it has been. We hope that this unfortunate event will not affect the process of reconciliation, restoration of peace and normalcy in Iraq,'' a brief statement issued by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

The Janata Dal (United) expressed apprehension that the execution of Saddam would give a "fillip" to forces of terrorism and militancy across the world.

JD(U) President Sharad Yadav said in a statement here the execution, after a ''farcical trial orchestrated by the United States,'' was a big blow to international peace, democracy and justice.

The Congress reacted strongly to the hanging of former Iraqi ruler Saddam Hussein, saying the ''undue haste'' in his execution lacked credibility.

In a statement, Congress Working Committee member Janardhan Dwivedi said the party had expressed its concern and appealed not to execute Saddam Hussein.

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK General Secretary J Jayalalithaa described Saddam's execution as ''outrageous'' and hit out at US President George Bush for perpetrating the execution.

''This outrage has been meticuluously and successfully perpetrated, to the full satisfaction of Mr Bush,'' Ms Jayalalithaa said in a statement in Chennai.

In Jammu, senior advocate and leader of Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party Prof Bhim Singh condemned the execution.

''...I fear the execution will have an adverse impact not only in Iraq, but also in other parts of the world,'' he added.

Describing Saddam's hanging as ''murder'', the Samajwadi Party (SP) condemned the UPA government at the Centre for extending only a ''lukewarm'' support to the Iraqi leader and called upon the Left to strongly oppopse the ''imperialistic designs ''of the United States.

''Had the Government wanted, it could have created a very strong opinion against the injustice being meted to , but the fact is that the Manmohan Singh Government is acting under the influence of the US and has accepted that the world had become unipolar,'' SP general secretary Amar Singh said while addressing a press conference here.

The Left parties strongly condemned the execution and said the UPA government did not raise its voice effectively bring about UN intervention and feared the hanging would lead to the break-up of Iraq.

While the CPI said the Indian government should have raised its voice more effectively to seek the UN intervention, the CPI(M) maintained the UPA government should realise that its strategic alliance with the George W Bush administration, which is notorious for its imperial aggrandisement, will harm India's interests.

The Uttar Pradesh government criticised hanging while condemning the attitude of the United States on the issues.

''It is not a punishment but a murder,'' UP Revenue Minister Ambika Chaudhry told newspersons in Lucknow.

Saddam execution led to a series of protests here with several organisations holding demonstrations condemning the hanging.

Activists of the Communist Party of India (ML) and the Socialist Unity Centre of India demonstrated outside the American Centre in the Capital to condemn the execution of Saddam ''at the behest of the US Government''.

The Jharkhand government criticised the US for the execution termed the incident as ''harmful sign for democratic countries.'' State Health Minister Lal Hemendra Pratap Dehati told newspersons in Ranchi, the 'puppet government' of Iraq acted on US directions and executed Saddam.

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