May 12, 2006

FROM THE ARCHIVES

WHEN ALBERT RENE MET SADDAM HUSSEIN

Psychological warfare between Iraq and Iran reach a climax today when the Iranians announced the death of President Saddam Hussein of Iraq.

Doubtless to lend it added weight, the presidency in Tehran attributed the information to the entourage of Ayatollah Khomeini. It said Mr. Hussein was killed in the course of a putsch at 9 am GMT.

In view of the propaganda campaigns being waged by the two countries, that kind of information originating from that kind of source was bound to provoke wariness among observers.

It so happened that at the very same moment the Iraqi Information Agency (INA) was announcing the arrival in Baghdad of President Albert René of Seychelles, who was met at the airport, the agency specified, by President Hussein.

Later INA published a comment in which it charged Iran with “wishful thinking”.

Iranian radio repeated its version, specifying this time that Mr. Hussein had been shot by Islamic fundamentalists when inspecting a military camp.

But INA reported tonight that Mr. Hussein was host at a dinner at the presidential palace in honour of Mr. René.

On today’s developments observers saw two possibilities. Perhaps something actually was tried in Iraq and failed, in which case the truth will seep out much later on. The other possibility is that nothing happened at all.

(Agence France-Presse)

April 27, 1980

Editor’s note: According to the Seychelles Nation upon his return, President René announced that Saddam had promised a donation of US$5 million. However, fate conspired against Mr. René because Saddam declared war on Iran soon after and the money never materialised. Interestingly, the incident referred to above is currently being debated at Saddam Hussein’s trial in Iraq. It appears that the attempt on Saddam’s life did indeed take place and in retaliation Saddam ordered the death of the villagers in an attempt to get at the assassin. He is now on trial for the murder of the villagers.