“Saddam” in Custody may be a Double

World reaction in quotes
Reaction from Iraq and beyond to the capture of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein by US forces.
US President George Bush

Saddam Hussein will face the justice he denied to millions...

It marks the end of the road for him and all who bullied and killed in his name. UN Secretary General Kofi Annan

The capture of Saddam Hussein provides a chance "to give fresh impetus to the search for peace and stability in Iraq".

US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

The Iraqi people have now been liberated in spirit as well as in fact. Today, many Iraqis can dare to believe what we have said from the beginning: that the era of brutal dictatorship of Saddam Hussein is over. His terrorist regime is finished.

Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, head of Iraq's interim Governing Council

This is a big blow to terrorists in Iraq. It is a great day for humanity and the Iraqi people.


Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of coalition ground forces in Iraq

This success brings closure to the Iraqi people. Saddam Hussein will never return to a position of power from which he can punish, terrorise, intimidate and exploit the Iraqi people as the did for more than 35 years.


Adnan Pachachi, member of Iraq Governing Council

The state of fear, secret police and oppression is gone forever. The Iraqi people are very happy and we look forward to a future of national reconciliation between Iraqis in order to build the new and free Iraq, an Iraq of equality.

UK Prime Minister Tony Blair

Where his rule meant terror and division and brutality, let his capture bring about unity, reconciliation and peace between all the people of Iraq.

Saddam has gone from power, he won't be coming back. That Iraqi people now know and it is they who will decide his fate.


Kuwait Information Minister Mohammed Abulhassan

Thank God that he has been captured alive, so he can be tried for the heinous crimes he has committed.

Kuwait today feels more relaxed and assured after the departure of this tyrant and after all are certain now that he will never return. The Kuwaiti people are happy for the Iraqi people.

It is the end of the rule of tyranny... Saddam's capture is a turning point and an opportunity for Iraqis to unite.


Spokeswoman for French President Jacques Chirac

The president is delighted at the arrest of Saddam Hussein.

This is a major event which should strongly contribute to the democratisation and the stabilisation of Iraq, and allow the Iraqis to once more be masters of their destiny in a sovereign Iraq.


German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, in a message to US President George W Bush

It's with great delight that I learned of Saddam Hussein's capture. I congratulate you on this successful operation.

Saddam Hussein caused horrible suffering to his people and the region. I hope the capture will help the international community's effort to rebuild and stabilise Iraq.

Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov

We think the arrest of Saddam Hussein will contribute to the strengthening of security in Iraq and to the process of political regulation in the country with the active participation of the United Nations.

Spokeswoman for Australian Prime Minister John Howard

Saddam's capture will lift a huge burden and remove a great fear from the people of Iraq.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon

Today is a great day for the democratic world.

We are relieved that this murderer and dictator can no longer stand in the way of rebuilding the country he destroyed.

Former UN chief weapons inspector Hans Blix

He ought to know quite a lot and be able to tell the story and we all want to get to the bottom of the barrel.

I'm sure the US will talk to him about that.


Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar

Saddam Hussein is the cause of all the poverty and suffering of the Iraqi people. Today, the moment has arrived for him to pay for his crimes.

Happily, today the main obstacle to peace, freedom and democracy in Iraq has disappeared.


Jordanian Government spokeswoman

The Jordanian Government hopes that a page has been turned and that the Iraqi people will be able to assume their responsibilities as soon as possible and build their future according to their will.

The first and last word concerning the capture of Saddam Hussein or his fate must be given to the Iraqi people.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Maher

I don't think anyone will be sad over Saddam Hussein.... His arrest does not change the fact that his regime was finished, and it is the natural consequence of the regime's fall.

The Iraqi regime had harmed the Iraqi people and had pulled the Arab region into several storms.

Hamid Elmi, deputy spokesman for Afghan President Hamid Karzai

The government of Afghanistan welcomes the capture of Saddam Hussein, whose hands are stained with the blood of many innocent Iraqis.

The capture of Saddam Hussein is a warning to other terrorists such as Osama Bin Laden and Mullah Omar.


Afghan Government spokesman Javid Loodin

It is positive news. It's a positive development. The capturing of Saddam Hussein has been one of the primary objectives of the war in Iraq.


Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda

I believe it is too optimistic to think that activities by the remnants of the Hussein regime and foreign terrorists, who have launched terrorist attacks in Iraq and elsewhere, would stop just because of his arrest,


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