Iraq wants peace, but will not surrender its dignity, says Saddam

SADDAM HUSSEIN yesterday declared Iraq wants peace — but not at the price of its dignity and independence.

The Iraqi leader told a visiting delegation of Russian lawmakers, including Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, that if the United States carries out its threat to attack, Iraq will “triumph over it, God willing”.

“Iraq doesn’t want war,” he said. But he added that peace “at any cost” was not acceptable. “We shall not relinquish our independence, our dignity and our right to live and act freely.”