Iraqi exiles in Ireland are to parade through Dublin today to thank the US and British governments for overthrowing Saddam Hussein's regime.
Mr Khalid Ibrahim, Dublin-based spokesman for the Organisation for Human Rights in Iraq, said the Iraqi people owed the allied forces a debt of gratitude "for doing a job the international community did not do".
He said "all Irish friends" could join him and other exiles on the hour-long parade from Trinity College to the US and British embassies in Ballsbridge, leaving the university's front gate at College Green at 3 p.m.
"It's unbelievable. We never thought we'd see this day," he said, as he watched the images of fellow Iraqis cheering on the streets of Baghdad. "This is our first free day in 35 years. We lost two million victims to this regime. It's so hard to see why international community ignored us."
He said that he and other Iraqi exiles who had argued for the war felt vindicated by the pictures. "I told people that the anti-war demonstrations were wrong because they would be used by Saddam for propaganda, and that is exactly what happened. The protests did not mention Saddam at all. This is a very good lesson to be careful in future and listen to the victims."
As well as praising the US and British governments, Mr Ibrahim said he wished to thank the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, "because they always mentioned their support for regime change and spoke against atrocities ... This is a new chapter in our history. Every Iraqi should be part of the new democracy".
