Former Iraqi troops demand payment

THOUSANDS of sacked Iraqi soldiers marched on the US-led administration yesterday and threatened to launch suicide attacks on American troops in Baghdad unless they were paid wages and compensation.

More than 3,000 angry soldiers from the disbanded Iraqi army massed outside the administration headquarters, in a presidential palace, shouting slogans and vowing a wave of attacks on US troops unless they got their money.

“All of us will become suicide bombers,” said Khairi Jassim, a former warrant officer. “I will turn my six daughters into bombs to kill the Americans.”

Paul Bremer, the US civil administrator for Iraq, dissolved Saddam Hussein’s armed forces, several security bodies and the defence ministry last month, firing 400,000 people. Many protesters said they could no longer feed their families.

“I have only 750 dinars (51 cent) in my pocket. How can I feed my family? I have a crippled child who needs medicines,” said Sabah Abdullah, also a former warrant officer.

Many demonstrators demanded that the Americans leave Iraq. Anger toward US troops has boiled over into violence in parts of Iraq, which has descended into anarchy since the war ended with widespread looting and violence as well as power shortages.

The protesters dispersed in the afternoon after talks were promised with the US-led administration today. However, they vowed action if there demands were not met.

“We will carry out attacks on the Americans and we will declare a jihad if our rights are not respected,” said former soldier Mohan Qahtan.

Protesters carried banners calling for the swift formation of an elected Iraqi government, the immediate payment of salaries to former soldiers, and a halt to any moves to form a force to replace the army.

“The Iraqi army did not fight the US troops, because it did not want Saddam Hussein. If it had fought them it would have killed them and prevented them from invading Iraq,” said Talib Kazim, who was wounded in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war. He said he used to get a salary of 92,000 dinars (around 68) a month.

“I have been in the army all my life,” said Mohammed Karim, who served first in the regular army and then the elite Republican Guards: “America should treat us as it treats employees of other ministries. They come to humiliate us. We do not fear America or Britain. The million members of the army are able to use a million rifles on US troops but we do not want harm.”

One Iraqi was hurt during the protest, but witnesses disagreed as to what happened. Some said the injured man was hit by a car. Others said they a US officer hit him with his rifle.