Joyous crowds in Baghdad celebrated Saddam Hussein’s birthday in a brand new way today, pasting photos of the former strongman on a donkey as they heaped scorn on his brutal 24-year reign. ‘‘For the first time, I won’t be forced to attend Saddam’s birthday ceremonies. He was a dictator, he was nothing but a donkey ruling over Iraq,’’ said Ali, 24. Ali said most Iraqis had been ‘‘faking joy on Saddam’s birthday each year because we were plain afraid.’’ ‘‘We’ll bring the donkey flowers and a cake this afternoon,’’ said Hassan Al-Hussein, 27,. Crowds of young boys were clapping their hands in appreciation as a man planted a banner and a colourful plastic tree by the donkey. ‘‘We won’t kill the animal although he represents Saddam the criminal, because donkeys are as oppressed as we were for years,’’ said Al-Hussein.
