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CNN Live Today

Iraqi People Show Public Support for Saddam Hussein

Aired April 29, 2002 - 14:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: There is growing speculation there that the United States will launch an attack to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein. However, the Iraqi president is still tremendously popular with his own people. At least publicly that's the way it appears.

Nic Robertson taking the pulse in Baghdad.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice-over): A day late, but not lacking in fervor. A birthday parade for president Saddam Hussein, his presence represented by a cardboard cutout, mounted on the back of a pickup truck.

This is Kirkuk, 300 kilometers north of the capital, Baghdad. Like the other celebrations before, designed to send twin messages: President Saddam Hussein is popular and his country supports the Palestinians.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (through translator): This is an expression of the people's view. It's the people who took to the streets.

ROBERTSON: The turnout here huge, according to the local officials, who estimated 400,000 came to demonstrate loyalty to the president. That turnout from a region of 3 1/2 million.

Noticeably absent among the demonstrators, ethnic Kurds. Just a few small groups in the crowd.

Kurds claim a long history in the oil-rich area, and pre-Gulf War statistics show they made up the majority of Kirkuk's population.

While government officials here deny it, Kurdish groups, which are the majority further north and live almost independent of rule from Baghdad, claim Kurds have been expelled from here. Bystanders endorsed the official line, that there are no problems with Kurds in this town.

"Everything is good here," says Ali Hussain (ph). "That's because of President Saddam Hussein."

(on camera): If the United States is to topple President Saddam Hussein, Kirkuk could be a key stepping stone in achieving that objective, if support in Kurdish groups in the north translates into insurrection here, as it did following the Gulf War in 1991.

(voice-over): That Kurdish uprising was quickly put down and government officials are now moving equally swiftly to condemn reports of United States plans for another attack.

TARIQ AZIZ, DEPUTY P.M. OF IRAQ: George Bush is the president of the United States. He can make his decisions in his own country, but he does not have the right and he does not have the capability, to change anything outside his country, and especially in this courageous country, Iraq.

ROBERTSON: Away from the official demonstrations, on the apparently tranquil streets of Kirkuk, there appears little likelihood of a new revolt anytime soon.

However, tighter security here than at celebrations closer to the capital hint at underlying tensions.

Nic Robertson, CNN, Kirkuk, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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