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CNN Sunday Morning

Saddam Hussein Turns 65

Aired April 28, 2002 - 07:12   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Iraq is celebrating President Saddam Hussein's 65th birthday today. The day is being marked with the annual display of loyalty to the president. But it's also taken on an anti-U.S. tone. CNN's Jane Arraf joins us once again from the Iraqi capital of Baghdad -- Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN ISTANBUL BUREAU CHIEF: Kyra, there were organized demonstrations across the country today, the center of them in Tikrit, the president's hometown, about 100 miles north of Baghdad. Now, President Saddam Hussein himself didn't appear at those celebrations. He hasn't really for security reasons in about 10 years, but a group of the leadership did. His cousin, particularly, Ali Hassan al-Majid, a member of the Revolutionary Command Council, officiated over the ceremonies. In these ceremonies, tens of thousands of people were brought in by bus. Diplomats were invited. And the leadership led by al-Majid cut a cake for the president. In addition, al-Majid fired a gun in celebration. That's sort of Saddam Hussein's signature gesture. He's fond of firing a gun, a rifle actually at public events. But this one was a revolver, a symbol of defiance as well as celebration.

And that defiance was a major angle today, in those demonstrations and in mass demonstrations in Baghdad as well. In the streets of Baghdad, people were taken from schools, from government offices and from other places to demonstrate their support for the president. They carried banners, including "Saddam is our choice." Clearly, a message to the Americans and the American plans to topple their president. All in all, festive celebrations for what is quite a tense time in Baghdad -- Kyra.

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