Hussein
Photo: AP
Palestinian activists build monument to Saddam Hussein
Monument showing Hussein pointing a rifle in the air erected last week in town of Qalqiliya; Hussein was longtime supporter of Palestinians, and gave millions of dollars to families of suicide bombers during Intifada that began in '00; He remains popular among many Palestinians because he fired several dozen Scud missiles at Israel during the '91 Gulf War.
Palestinian activists have built a monument to the late Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in the West Bank.
The monument, showing a portrait of Hussein in a bowler hat and pointing a rifle in the air, was erected last week in the town of Qalqiliya.
A small faction called the Arab Liberation Front built the structure, but the city's governor, Rafea Rawajbeh, a member of the ruling Fatah movement, was among those in attendance at last week's opening ceremony.
Hussein at the height of his power, greeting the Iraqi public (Photo: AP)
Hussein was a longtime supporter of the Palestinians, and gave millions of dollars to the families of suicide bombers during the Intifada that began in 2000.
He remains popular among many Palestinians because he fired several dozen Scud missiles at Israel during the 1991 Gulf War. That year, posters of Saddam hung from lampposts in the Gaza Strip and rallies were held in his honor.
Another monument of the Iraqi despot, in Iraq (Photo: AP)
Hussein was toppled in the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and executed three years later.
The Arab Liberation Front has built Saddam monuments in several other Palestinian towns.
