Corporal defends raising of US flag as a symbolic gesture

THE United States Marine who sparked controversy when he draped an American flag over a statue of Saddam Hussein said he was “egged on”

Millions of TV viewers around the world saw Corporal Edward Chin, aged 23, place the Stars and Stripes on the head of the 40ft structure in central Baghdad on Wednesday.

Moments later the statue was pulled down by an American military vehicle and destroyed by jubilant Iraqis.