Azeri boys hang themselves, influnced by Saddam

Baku, Jan 16: Two boys in different regions of Azerbaijan whohanged themselves at the weekend may have been influenced by SaddamHussein's execution, a source in the security authorities told Reutersyesterday.

According to a preliminary conclusion by the investigators, NaigGasanov, who was almost eight-years-old, hanged himself out ofcuriosity and Shakir Sunchelyeyev, 12, did it ''to show his protest'',the source said.

Before his death, Gasanov had been asking his parents about theprocess of hanging and tried out the technique when they were out.

Earlier this month a Saudi boy hanged himself, possibly to mimicSaddam, and an Algerian boy was hanged by his friends in a playfulre-run of the execution, newspapers reported.

Reuters>