TNTJ members held for pro-Saddam protest

Chennai, Dec 30 (UNI) Hundreds of volunteers of Tamil Nadu Thowheeth Jamaath (TNTJ) including women- some of them carrying their children-- were taken into custody when they defied police order and attempted to picket the US Consulate here today, protesting against the execution of Saddam Hussein.

Speaking on the occasion, TNTJ state deputy general secretary A S Alauddin strongly condemned the execution and said, ''US President George Bush has to reply one day or can other for this''.

Members of the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) were also taken into custody for a similar reason.

The volunteers of the TMMK burnt effigy of Mr Bush, US Flags, beat portrait of George Bush with chappals and raised anti-Bush slogans.

TMMK General Secretary S H Hyder Ali in his address said Mr Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair had committed greater crime against humanity that dwarf the purported crime of the deposed iraqi leader Saddam. He demanded both George Bush and Tony Blair be hauled up and tried in the International Criminal Court at the Hague.

He also wanted that the Indian Government should not be a mute spectator to the atrocities committed by the US in Iraq and havoc created in the name of justice.

The Dalit Panthers of India General Secretary Thol Thirumavalavan partcipated in the agitations of TNTJ and TMMK and condemned the execution.

Members of the Islamiya Jananayaga Party burnt an effigy of Mr Bush and staged demonstration protesting against the execution at Thousandlights area in the city.

Over 70 persons of Democratic Youth Front of India (DYFI) were also taken into custody when they attempted to picket the US Consulate General's office here.

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