First taste of democracy

Jafar Hassan did something on Saturday he never thought he would do, not in his lifetime. He organised a rally, and he painted his own sign ...

Jafar Hassan did something on Saturday he never thought he would do, not in his lifetime. He organised a rally, and he painted his own sign of protest.

These are chaotic and scary days in Iraq’s capital, with looters in the streets and US troops still battling Iraqi forces. But they are heady days too as Iraqis begin to realise that they are free from Saddam Hussein’s repressive rule.

Hassan’s banner expressed the complexity of his feelings and its message showed his despair over what is happening to his society. ‘‘We want a new government as soon as possible to ensure the security and peace,’’ the sign read in very neat English and Arabic.

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About 100 people joined the demonstration that Hassan helped organise at the already historic site where US forces helped Iraqi civilians pull down a towering statue of Saddam last week. Young US Marines stood across the street, their M-16s in hand, staring blankly at the chanting crowd.

‘‘We want Iraqi government!’’ the crowd of men chanted. ‘‘I was born in 1965, and since the first day I was born until two days ago, I was not acquainted with freedom,’’ Munther Gaheb, 38, said as he joined the protest. ‘‘I am seeing it now, and it is wonderful.’’