Iraq grows bolder in praise of bin Laden

A newspaper owned by a son of Saddam Hussein has sung the praises of Osama bin Laden - signalling a shift in the Iraqi Government’s attitude to the United States’ No 1 enemy.

While Iraq has been quick to condemn the US for its air strikes on Afghanistan, it had previously downplayed their target - bin Laden, the prime suspect in the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington.

Protesters at last week’s mass demonstration in Baghdad denounced America but did not carry bin Laden posters or chant his name. And government officials denied reports of an Iraqi link to bin Laden, pointing out that Iraq does not recognise the Afghanistan Government that harbours him.

However, yesterday the newspaper Babil published a column that addressed itself to the foreign ministers who took part in the Organisation of the Islamic Conference meeting in Qatar on Wednesday, which gave quiet support to the US air strikes.

‘‘Bush despises you,’’ the columnist told the ministers. ‘‘He did not inform you of the strikes because you have no say. He informed Blair, Putin and others while you were sitting ... Shame on you.’’

The columnist did not reveal his name, but appeared to be a person with influence. Babil is owned by Odai Hussein, the son of president Saddam Hussein.

‘‘Compare your faces to Osama’s beautiful appearance on all televisions of the world, swearing that he will not let America live in peace until Arabs do,’’ the columnist continued, referring to the videotaped speech of bin Laden that was broadcast shortly after the air strikes began on October 7.

‘‘He said it while facing blasphemy’s missiles falling ... and the whole world listened,’’ the columnist wrote.

On another page, Babil published a poem written in homage to bin Laden.

‘‘All America is trying to kill me and I wish to die while fighting,’’ says one line. The poet portrays bin Laden as lonely figure enduring ‘‘the oppression of the enemy’’.