5 years violence leaves Iraq deep in shade

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Source: CCTV.com | 04-10-2008 13:44

Wednesday marks the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.

Despite the fall of Saddam Hussein's government, conditions for many ordinary Iraqis have not improved and the country is now living with the consequences of five years of violence.

Iraqi family mourns the loss of their relative during a funeral ceremony in the Shiite holy city of Najaf,  south of Baghdad, Iraq, Wednesday, April 9, 2008.  (AP Photo)

Abu Mustafa, Iraqi Citizen, said, "Saddam's regime fell five years ago but we have seen no change. The change was to the worst. In fact, Iraqis are tired, they are tired, tired."

Coalition forces ended Saddam Hussein's rule in Iraq with the aim of creating an American-style democracy. The US believed this political system would bring peace and stability to Iraq.

However, events have not unfolded the way the global community expected at the beginning of the war.

A country-wide insurgency is playing havoc with everyday life and major facilities.

Some Iraqis are better off than they were under Saddam Hussein, but many have to put up with far worse conditions than previously.

Ahumed, Iraqi Citizen, said, "Five years after the fall of Saddam's regime nothing has been changed. The situation is the same, the same suffering. We were living in darkness and now we are living in more darkness. No services, no gasoline, nothing. The situation is bad."

Safiya Al-Suhail, Iraqi Parliament Member, said, "Five years have passed, Iraq has become the country of nothing. No electricity, no water and no security. Security was good during the time of the former regime, there was a military authority that had the ability to impose its fearful control on all the society. Today, democracy has brought chaos,"

Safiya al-Suhail called on Iraqis to take account of their sufferings ahead of elections next October.

Safiya Al-Suhail, Iraqi Parliament Member, said, "I can see the definitive moment. New elections will be held. The Iraqi people should participate in the elections and take a look at their previous experiment."

The government imposed a one-day curfew on the capital on Wednesday, the fifth anniversary of the fall of Baghdad, but gave no reason.

Moqtada al-Sadr, a rebel Shi'ite cleric who was once an ally of Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, had called for a big anti-U.S. march in Baghdad on the same day. But he cancelled it for fear his followers would be attacked.

Editor:Zhang Pengfei