The Arab Street Speaks, from London

Reuters | 4/09/03


Jubilant Iraqi exiles storm embassy in London

LONDON, April 9 (Reuters) - Iraqi exiles living in London on Wednesday stormed the former Iraqi embassy in the capital in celebration of the apparent collapse of Saddam Hussein's government in Baghdad.

The embassy has stood empty since Britain ordered Iraq's last diplomat in London, who worked at a scaled-down mission called an Interests Section under the umbrella of the Jordanian Embassy, to leave the country last month.

"They had to force entry but it was a peaceful takeover," Zuhair Al-Maher, a member of the Iraqi opposition and one of the organisers, told Reuters.

"There are about 60 of us and our intention is to publicise our relief and jubilation at the downfall of Saddam's regime."

A spokeswoman for London's Metropolitan Police said they had made more than 20 arrests for criminal damage but were still dealing with the incident in west London.

The action came as television networks around the world played live footage of scenes in Baghdad showing residents welcoming U.S. forces into the centre of the city as the Iraqi president's 24-year rule crumbled into chaos and looting.

As the U.S. Marines rolled into the city centre on day 21 of the war, hundreds of people gutted official buildings, hauling off anything of value and pulled down a massive statue of Saddam.

"It is still hard to take in but this is one of the happiest days in the history of the Iraqi people," Al-Maher said.

He said it was very likely similar scenes would be played out at other Iraqi embassies around the world.

"Saddam is irrelevant now. Of course we would like to see him stand trial for his crimes but the important thing is that he and his regime and apparatus of terror are gone -- for good."

A spokesman for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said the embassy was closed down in 1991 before the Gulf War but had retained a small staff working under the auspices of the Jordanian Embassy until last month.

Last month, the last diplomat and another staff member were asked to leave ahead of the U.S.-led war in Iraq.