Two days before the first anniversary of arrest of toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, who had ruled the oil-rich country for about 35 years, Iraqis seem to have almost forgotten him. 

The 67-year-old strongman had disappeared after the fall of Baghdad in the hands of US forces on April 9, 2003, and he holed up for about eight months in disguise in an area near his hometown of Tikrit, 150 km north of Baghdad.

On Dec. 13, 2003, the Americans found Saddam Hussein in a cellar with disheveled hair and long beard, and he did not resist, triggering speculation that he was drugged before being captured.

The United States had offered a reward of US$25 million for any information leading to his arrest, and it was said that one of his assistants gave a clue to the Americans about his whereabouts.

The United States considered Saddam Hussein a prisoner of war. According to the international law, all prisoners of war should be released by the end of the occupation, unless they are proven to be guilty for any other charges.

When the US-led coalition handed over power to the interim Iraqi government last June, US forces insisted on keeping Saddam Hussein under their control, fearing that he would be killed or rescued.

Under a compromise, the interim government took over Saddam Hussein legally, but he stayed in custody of US forces till Iraqi forces are capable of providing security for him.

The place of Saddam's detention is still unknown, although some say that it is near the airport, where top former Iraqi officials are detained, or in the Republican Palace, which is now the headquarters of the US command, the US Embassy and the interim government.

Some reports said that the Americans have transferred Saddam from time to time to US bases in Qatar and then returned him to Baghdad.

"Saddam will have a just and fair trial, contrary to what he used to do to the Iraqi people, of whom about a million Iraqis disappeared in his era," said Iyad Allawi, the interim prime minister.

The appearance of Saddam Hussein with handcuffs on television was seen as a victory for US President George W. Bush, who won another four-year term last month against the backdrop of the worsening situation in Iraq.

But some observers said that there is no link between the arrest of Saddam Hussein and mounting resistance.

"Saddam is actually over and it would be unreasonable that he returns to power. The current resistance is not fighting for him, and thousands of Baathists who used to cheer 'we sacrifice our lives for you' had abandoned him," said Mohamed Salih Al Aswad, a lawyer.

"As for the Iraqi people, they are busy with such issues as insecurity, economic deterioration, unemployment, absence of basic services as well as shortage of electricity, drinking water and sewage," he said.

Some Iraqis miss the days of Saddam Hussein for the stable situation, but they would not deny that there was no freedom at that time. 

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2004)