4 years after Saddam statue fall, Iraq still in chaos

    BAGHDAD, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Four years after a statue of Saddam Hussein was toppled in Baghdad's Firdous Square, Iraqis are still living in chaos where they have to bear daily bombings and sectarian violence as well as decapitated or tortured bodies. 

    Layla al-Saigh, a housewife in her thirties, told Xinhua on Sunday that "I was happy when I saw the fall of Saddam statue four years ago, but now I realized it was the start of security deterioration."

    On April 9, 2003, the U.S. forces broke into central Baghdad and pulled down a large statue of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein in Firdous Square who was executed last December, raising hopes for many Iraqis that it would bring a bright future for them.

    Four years after the toppling of the statue, Iraqi people were disappointed as their hopes have become castle in the air.  Full story

AL official hopes Iraq conferences can help achieve reconciliation

    CAIRO, April 8 (Xinhua) -- An Arab League (AL) senior official on Sunday voiced hope for achieving reconciliation during the upcoming two international conferences on Iraq to be hosted by Egypt in early May.

    In a press statement issued on Sunday, Ali al-Garoush, the director of the Arab department at the Arab League and the official in charge of the Iraq file, highlighted the importance of reaching a balanced political and security solution in order to achieve reconciliation and stability in the country.

    Al-Garoush's statement came a day after Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari announced an international ministerial meeting to be held in Egypt's Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 3-4.  Full story