Thousands visit Saddam's grave

Thousands of Iraqis, mostly Sunni, made the pilgrimage today to Saddam Hussein's grave in the town of Ouja, on the outskirts of Tikrit.

Saddam was buried in his home town, a few miles from the graves of his sons Uday and Kusay who were killed by American troops.

Saddam was hanged yesterday after an Iraqi tribunal sentenced him to death for the murder of more than a hundred people in Iraq. The complete extent of Saddam's crimes was not raised in the trial, but he is responsible for the death of over a million people.

A day of death following Saddam's hanging

At least 4 car bombs detonated in Iraq today, claiming over 60 lives and causing over 100 injuries. The explosions follow Saddam Hussein's execution earlier this morning. Saddam's followers of the Sunni faction in Iraq swear to keep fighting against the Americans and Shi'ites in Iraq.

Saddam's lawyer predicted that violence will follow the hanging of Saddam and that all those who were involved in his execution will pay dearly for their participation in it.

Mixed feelings over Saddam's execution

Shi'ites celebrated in the streets of Baghdad as news of Saddam's death circulated. Sunnis, however, mourned their leader's passing. Kurdish leaders also expressed satisfaction at the death of the "Butcher of Baghdad" and expressed the hope that his demise shall mark the turning of a new leaf in Iraq and an end to the internal bloodshed.
Sunnis criticized the time of execution, on the Muslim Holiday of Sacrifice. It is believed that Iraqi officials simply did not wish to wait fearing a wave of kidnappings and rescue attempts.

Saddam Hussein has been hanged

Saddam Hussein, Iraq's dictator who ruled the country between 1979-2003 was executed this morning in Iraq.

Saddam who led his country to an 8 year war with Iran and to the first Gulf War by his invasion of Kuwait in 1990, was hanged this morning.

Saddam, who is responsible for the death of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Kurds, Iranians, Kuwaitis and others was toppled by the US army in the second Gulf War. Saddam faced trial in an Iraqi tribunal and was found guilty of murder.

Saddam whose request to face a firing squad was denied, refused to wear a blindfold and did not resist his execution.

Officials of the Iraqi government who witnessed the execution danced in rejoice around the body in what many view as a horrible spectacle.

A day of rockets in the south of Israel

10 Qassam rockets landed today in the south of Israel. All the rockets were launched by Palestinian Terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Today's barrage brings the total of Qassam rockets since the ceasefire was proclaimed to over 70.

The 10th rocket landed in a kibbutz and caused panic. All over the Western Negev sirens blared today as 10 rockets fell around several towns and kibuttzes in the western Negev. How Israel would respond to this escalation is yet unclear, but residents of the Western Negev are screaming for military action against the rocket launchers.