Break the silence

Break the silence
By Gabriele Zamparini

The sectarian lynching of two codefendants of the assassinated President of Iraq Saddam Hussein has been postponed "due to international pressure".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon “fully endorses the call made today by (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights) Louise Arbour for restraint by the government of Iraq in the execution of the death sentences imposed by the Iraqi high tribunal."

There is not much time left. Baha al-Araji, an influential Shiite lawmaker from radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr`s parliamentary bloc, said: "I am sure it will be done on Sunday."

Meanwhile rumors have emerged claiming that Moqtada al-Sadr took part in the actual hanging of Saddam Hussein. (Read here and here)

Will the left and anti-war establishment in the USA and UK break their silence?

UPDATE: FROM JUAN COLE'S INFORMED COMMENT

A Ministry of Interior official admitted to Reuters on Wednesday that Saddam's execution was carried out by militiamen rather than by IM security guards, as planned. It is alleged that militiamen infiltrated the guards. That is, the earlier Sunni charges that Saddam was handed over to the Mahdi Army of Muqtada al-Sadr for execution were more or less correct. The Sunni-owned al-Zaman is having a field day with this.

Even the noose that hanged Saddam has ended up in the possession of Muqtada al-Sadr. A Kuwaiti businessman is trying to buy it as a momento. Saddam killed Muqtada's father and also invaded Kuwait.

Read also:

The crows join the lynching

30 December 2006 - a day of infamy