'Troops will abandon Saddam'

2003-03-18 16:36

Auckland - The former head of Iraq's air defence systems, Shamel Majid, says the army won't defend Saddam Hussein, adding that morale is low and equipment in short supply.

The New Zealand-based Majid added that even the elite Republican Guard would cave in swiftly in the face of an attack.

However, he warned that once war broke out, the military would abandon its command and control centres and run operations from city suburbs.

Majid, who fled Iraq with his family five years ago, said although he was in favour of a war to topple Saddam, he was concerned at the potential for civilian casualties.

"It is a good idea to topple Saddam Hussein, whatever the cost - the important thing for the Iraqi people is to live life free," said Majid, who now works for New Zealand's Refugee and Migrant Service in Napier.

But Majid, who has seen Baghdad bombed several times, said any attack should be limited to military targets.

"We don't want them to bomb the Iraqi people or what's left of the civilian infrastructure - the water plants, power stations and bridges - like they did last time ... They said they won't attack Iraqi people, and we hope they are honest and serious about this."

"The problem is that the Iraqi regime has always hidden weapons in civilian neighbourhoods, that's why civilians are killed by the American bombs," he said.

- AFX