AP: Saddam leaves Iraq, arrives in Damascus

[mrskippy]

Saddam, sons appear on Syrian television

DAMASUS (AP) _ Iraqi President Saddam Hussein fled to Syria Tuesday morning and abdicated the presidency following an apparent asylum deal with Syrian President Bashir Assad.

Hussein appeared with his two sons, who will not be taking over their father's roll in Iraq. In Arabic, Hussein blamed the United States for forcing him from power and said his move was for the "good of the Arab people."

Other Iraqi leaders apparently have reached asylum deals with Syria, which has promised to protect their fellow Baathists and not turn them over to the Hague for war crimes.

Assad informed United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan. Annan immediately phoned United States President George W. Bush, who has ordered troops to enter Baghdad to maintain peace and prevent any attempts for a government takeover.

Annan and Bush were expected to hold press conferences later today.

General Tommy Franks, who is the commander of coalition forces in Doha, Qatar, is expected to travel to Baghdad and act as Iraq's acting president until a UN peacekeeping force arrives in Baghdad to form a transition government.

It's unknown how long the transition will take. It likely will feature an open election that will be overlooked by the UN.

Until the UN arrives, Iraq will be treated as joint US-British territory, said White House Spokesman Ari Fleischer.

Despite the turn of events, the White House was upset with Assad over the asylum agreement.

"Clearly we're upset. We hope to have Saddam turned over for war crimes. But at this point we're happy that the Iraqi people have been liberated," Fleischer said.

While most Iraqi citizens danced in the streets, it was a different scene in neighboring Jordan, where hundreds of thousands of people protested in front of the US Embassy to demand the Americans to leave Iraq immediately.

"The Americans. The Zionists don't belong in Iraq. Saddam is gone. Now they should leave,'' said one protester, who declined to give his name.

In Kuwait, news of Saddam's departure was met with joy.

"Praise Allah. This is truly a great day for the Arab people. Our friends, the Americans, they have saved us again. May Allah bless them," said Mahmud Kamal, as he was shopping at a Kuwait City market.

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April Fool's!!!

[JeeberD]

I fricken knew it....

[mrskippy]

I had this planned all day. Saw Alf's. But I at least wanted to get mine. I actually chose Syria, because the rumor is Saddam has been offered asylum bas Bashir Assad.

Wanted to do an official looking AP story.

[JeeberD]

You almost had me, but I started to think about it half way through and scrolled down looking for the April Fool's...

[Chief Rum]

Originally posted by mrskippy
Hussein appeared with his two sons, who will not be taking over their father's roll in Iraq.

Somebody's missing copy editor is showing!

Chief Rum

[GrantDawg]

Originally posted by Chief Rum
Somebody's missing copy editor is showing!

Chief Rum

No, they will not be eating his dinner.

[sabotai]

:Hussein appeared with his two sons, who will not be taking over their father's roll in Iraq. "

What kind of roll? Raisin? Cinnamon?

[MylesKnight]

DAMN YOU SKIPPY!!