Samajwadi Party's 'black day' on Saddam's hanging

Lucknow, Jan 4: Ruling Samajwadi Party today brought out marches and observed 'black day' in Uttar Pradesh protesting the execution of ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Train services were particularly affected in Lucknow and Allahabad, when protestors squatted on tracks. Reports of disruption of trains were received from Etawah, Varanasi, Mainpuri and other places.

Police sources in the state headquarters here said the demonstration was peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from anywhere.

SP activists were shouting anti-US and anti-Bush slogans, protesting the ''illegal hanging'' of Saddam.

A report from Unnao said tension ran high, when some people objected to a group trying to forcefully close down shops in the town. However, the situation was controlled with the timely arrival of police.

Meanwhile, in the state capital, SP workers brought out a protest march, which ended at Hazratganj. The SP leaders held the US responsible for the hanging and even blamed the UPA government at the centre for not raising its voice against the ''US move.'' The 69-year-old deposed Iraqi leader was executed on December 30.

Earlier on November 5, a US-sponsored court in Baghdad had sentenced Saddam to death by hanging after being found guilty of crimes against humanity for his role in the killing of 148 Shi'ite villagers in Dujail province, following an assassination attempt on his life in 1982.

UNI

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