October 23, 2002

Saddam's gesture

SIR - Saddam Hussein continues to use his deception techniques by announcing the release of all prisoners, including political ones (report, Oct. 21). Saddam has always said that Iraq did not have political prisoners; now he is telling us that he has released them.

We Iraqis have a lot of reasons not to believe Saddam. Releasing thieves and murderers on to the streets of Iraq is not the solution. The only way to restore the disastrous situation in Iraq is the removal of Saddam and his government and establishing a proportionally representative democratic regime.

Ahmed Shames
London NW2