Around the World: Iraq

Ban on Saddam grave visit

The Iraqi government imposed a ban yesterday on all organized visits to the grave of executed former leader Saddam Hussein after some schools near his stronghold of Tikrit arranged trips for their pupils.

"The Cabinet secretariat has sent instructions to the education ministry and to Salaheddin province and its provincial council banning the organization of visits to the tomb of the president of the former regime," a statement said.

Saddam loyalists regularly hold commemorations by his graveside in his native village of Al-Awja, outside the northern town of Tikrit, on the anniversaries of his birth and execution.

(China Daily 07/07/2009 page12)