Relief, trepidation, anger at fall of Saddam

LONDON - Concerns about Iraq's future and where the United States might next unleash its awesome military might tempered widespread relief on Thursday that Saddam Hussein's grip had fallen away so easily.

His 24-year reign appeared to have ended on Wednesday when US troops swept into the heart of Baghdad and jubilant Iraqis danced on a toppled statue of their ousted leader.

But relief in many countries that Baghdad had fallen without a bloodbath mingled with mistrust of the United States in parts of Europe and Asia, and shock and anger in the Middle East.

Some wondered whether President Bush, emboldened by military success, would turn his attention to other nations Washington has accused of pursuing weapons of mass destruction.

Syria, Iran and Libya have all drawn US censure, along with North Korea.

The New York Times said the collapse of government authority in Baghdad "constitutes the high-water mark for a new American determination to use the nation's military might to project its power around the world."

Prince Hassan of Jordan told the BBC: "There are jitters throughout the region about the possibility of (U.S.) threats to Syria and possibly Iran resulting in the domino effect."

That view was echoed even in Britain, the United States' staunchest European ally and its partner in the Iraq war.

"This unprecedented show of US offensive power sends a daunting message. Who knows which way the Abrams tank barrels will swivel next?" the left-leaning Guardian newspaper asked.

France, a vociferous opponent of the conflict, said "bravo" to the end of the war and fall of Saddam Hussein.

A statement issued in the name of President Jacques Chirac said: "France, like every democracy, welcomes the fall of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship, and hopes there will be a rapid and effective end to the fighting."

But presidential aide Alain Juppe struck at the heart of Washington's justification for its actions, adding: "We were right to say that there were other ways to disarm Iraq. Iraq did not use weapons of mass destruction."

Many Arabs felt let down by demise of a figure who had represented a rare source of Arab defiance of American power; others were more shocked by his own people's failure to defend or mourn him, and saw a warning to other unelected Arab rulers.

"It's a day of shame," said Ali Jaddah, an engineer in the Palestinian city of Ramallah. "On this day, Arabs have become slaves. The only man who dared to say 'no' to the Americans' face has vanished today. What is left is a bunch of bowing and scraping Arab leaders."

A front-page editorial in Beirut's The Daily Star said: "The Americans should not confuse happiness at the tyrant's fall with a willingness to accept occupation. The only time they will be truly welcome in Iraq will be when they leave."

The world's thoughts turned quickly to rebuilding oil-rich Iraq, and again there was suspicion of US motives.

"It remains to be seen whether it is a good idea to confine the reconstruction of Iraq to retired American generals who have close relations with the arms industry, the oil business and the hawks of warlord George W. Bush," wrote the Belgian daily De Morgen.

A US-led body, headed by retired general Jay Garner, has been appointed to oversee civil operations in Iraq.

"There is too much at stake to allow the future to be determined by arms lobbyists, since stability in the Middle East is at stake," added the left-leaning newspaper.

Syria's Tishreen newspaper, a mouthpiece for the government, which has been accused by the United States of backing Iraq, warned that problems were only just beginning "after the killing, destruction, terror and hunger."

Germany's Sueddeutsche Zeitung said recent experience in Bosnia and Afghanistan showed that peace could not be taken for granted even after the old guard was swept away.

France and Germany have led calls for the United Nations to take a central role in Iraq's future.

"After the necessary phase of ensuring security, Iraq must recover its full sovereignty in a region of stability with the legitimacy that the United Nations gives," said Chirac's statement.

That view won backing on Thursday from mainly Muslim Indonesia, and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi urged international cooperation to create a government for Iraq.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak called for Iraqis to be allowed to govern themselves as quickly as possible.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Bush's closest European ally, was "delighted" at events in Baghdad, his spokesman said. "People have seen the scales of fear falling from the people of Iraq."

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq war