Moroccans protest outside US embassy over Saddam

RABAT, Jan 5 (Reuters) Over 1,000 demonstrators massed near the American embassy in Rabat late today to condemn what they said was U.S. responsibility for the hanging of Saddam Hussein.

''The people condemn the American noose,'' shouted protesters.

''United States get out of Iraq -- Iraq is not yours.'' The crowd included rights activists, writers and artists. Many people held aloft pictures of the deposed Iraqi leader as they marched on a United Nations office in central Rabat.

''We strictly condemn this crime against Saddam and demand that those responsible, (US President) George W Bush among them, be put on trial,'' said Abdelhamid Amine, president of Moroccan human rights group AMDH.

Saddam's execution on Saturday drew angry protests from his fellow Sunni Arabs and criticism from several European governments.

Egypt and Tunisia have both condemned the timing of the hanging, on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. Morocco, another close US ally, did not comment on the execution but repeated a wish for a sovereign and united Iraq.

REUTERS SRS PM0210