Baghdad: Iraqi television on April 4 showed President Saddam Hussein being cheered
on a street, in the first footage of the Iraqi leader in public aired since the
start of the war March 20.
Saddam appeared in olive green military garb on the main square of the al-Mansour
residential neighbourhood of Baghdad, flanked by just a few bodyguards but packing a
firearm in a holster.
The footage, which showed a scene in daylight, was broadcast at about 17:30 hours
GMT (23:00 hours IST).
Smiling broadly, the Iraqi strongman accepted several kisses of his hand from the
jubilant crowd, which chanted, "With our blood and our souls, we shall redeem you"
and "Bush, Bush, listen well, we all love Saddam Hussein."
