After Hussein, Iraq plays free

The football landscape, like its political counterpart, is changing rapidly in Iraq since the fall of Saddam earlier this year. Erik Kirschbaum reports from Baghdad.

WHEN the whistle went for the kick-off, even the big guys with big guns turned to watch. On a warm afternoon in Baghdad, Iraq's football team was in action again.

The chants of the crowd drowned out the thunka-thunka of US helicopters overhead.