Iraqi people vent fury on Saddam's portraits

Images of Saddam Hussein lay shattered across Baghdad today after the oppressed people of the Iraqi capital vented their anger at the ousted tyrant.

Renewed explosions were heard in the north of the city overnight as US forces battled fighters still loyal to Saddam.

But those who had suffered the full brutality of the regime have taken to demolishing symbols of the leader they so hated.

Yesterday, as US forces took control of the centre of the capital, the public face of Saddam took the brunt of popular emotion.

Just as the many monuments, statues and paintings had been symbols of his dominance for nearly 25 years, the images of an all-powerful Saddam across the Iraqi capital were the focus of angry attacks, and massive public displays of ecstasy at his demise.

In scenes that recalled the fall of the Berlin Wall, an angry crowd of civilians attacked a towering bronze statue of Saddam with sledge hammers, finally pulling it to the ground in the city’s central Shahid Square.

Joining local men in the heart of Baghdad, US Marines helped them topple the imposing monument on the day the city’s population celebrated its liberation.

Using the A-frame of a tank recovery vehicle, the Marines scaled the statue and secured chains to the figure alongside a noose which the Iraqis had already threaded around its neck.

As the vehicle’s winch was tightened, the monument jerked then slowly fell forward, hanging precariously from the plinth – before crashing to the ground.

Hundreds of young Iraqi men swamped the huge statue, gathering round, cheering and stamping on it as it lay on the ground.

The monument was broken to pieces and its head dragged through the streets of the capital by the men in the crowd.

Many were seen beating what was left of the prone figure with their shoes – a severe insult in Arab culture which was repeated on images of Saddam across the city during the day.

Others joined in, pulling at the picture and kicking the canvas until it was ripped loose from its buckled wooden frame and torn into strips.

Looters raided the administration’s offices, abandoned shops and government residences in the capital, taking furniture and food.

In parts of Baghdad, men, women and their children were pictured cheering and giving “victory” signs to foreign TV cameras.

According to reports, government officials fled the city earlier in the day, and Saddam’s controversial information minister Mohammed Saeed al-Sahhaf cancelled his morning press briefing.

Men, women and children ran and danced in Baghdad’s dusty streets, carrying office chairs, sacks of grain and other supplies on their backs.

But not everyone in Baghdad was jubilant to see the US troops.

“One of the Shias told me, ‘We don’t want the Americans here. We are glad that Saddam has gone, we see this now as an opportunity to take control of our own lives’,” said the BBC’s Paul Wood.

And despite the jubilant scenes, the vast majority of Iraqis were not on the streets to welcome the American soldiers.

ITV’s John Irvine claimed to be among the first to welcome US Marines into the city.

Asked by Irvine how it felt to be in the city, one replied: “Pretty good. It’s nice to represent marines here. We entered Baghdad last night, but have just got to the centre now. The reception has been great.”

But further down the street, two men held up a banner which said in English: “Go home you US w*****s.”

The view from many US marines perched in their tanks on the streets of Baghdad was that their journey into the city had been long and tiring.

One said: “It’s been pretty good coming in as a matter of fact. Hopefully they’ve quit hiding and shooting at us. That’s the only thing I’m worried about.

Throughout their campaign, coalition forces have made a point of removing the images of Saddam hung in every public building in towns and villages across country.

The vast bronze statue demolished by the crowd yesterday was inaugurated a year ago for Saddam’s 65th birthday.