Iran happy over capture of Saddam
IRIB English News
2003/12/14
Tehran, Dec 14 - Iran's Vice President Mohammed Ali Abtahi expressed satisfaction Sunday over the capture of Saddam Hussein, whom he described as a "criminal" who committed many crimes against the Iranians.
"I am happy they have arrested a criminal, whoever it may be, and I am even more happy because it is a criminal who committed so many crimes against Iranians," Abtahi told reporters in the first official Iranian reaction to the arrest.
US overseer Paul Bremer confirmed Sunday that Saddam had been captured alive on Saturday night near his northern hometown of Tikrit.
"The arrest of Saddam Hussein could reinforce stability in Iraq because it will weaken the morale of his supporters," Abtahi added.
Although Iran, which fought a bitter 1980-1988 war against Saddam's Iraq, constantly opposed the US-led assault on Iraq, it rejoiced at the Iraqi leader's ouster in April.
The Islamic Republic blames Saddam for hundreds of thousands of Iranians killed in the eight-year war, and says it was subjected to Iraqi chemical attacks.
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