A New Delhi news service conducted this poll of Iraqi citizens. We have focused so much on world opinion but what about the average everyday Iraqi? Iraqi’s can’t forgive Saddam: NDTV poll IndianExpress.com Express News Service New Delhi, April 29: Well, they might be undecided about whether US troops should stay on or not, but Iraqi’s are sure that Saddam Hussein deserved punishment. According to an NDTV opinion poll conducted in Baghdad, 55 per cent wanted to see Saddam Hussein punished. The poll showed that a much smaller number still wanted to spare Saddam punishment. Seventeen per cent wanted him to be freed another 13 per cent would like to see him exiled to another country, making a total of 30 per cent who do not want Saddam punished when he is captured. Once again, the older generation (over 40 years) appeared to be more unforgiving of Saddam. While 58 percent of this generation want him punished, 53% of the under-40’s opted for the same. The NDTV opinion poll indicates that the people of Iraq are also upset with the attitude of Iraq’s Arab neighbours. When asked whether the neighbouring countries stood by Iraq or whether these Arab nations turned their backs on Iraq an overwhelming 71 per cent said these countries turned their backs on Iraq. Only 17 per cent feel that the neighbours stood by Iraq. Muslims appeared to be more upset than others. The NDTV sample survey questioned over 100 Christians and while 59 per cent of Christians felt that the Arab neighbours had let down Iraq, 73 per cent of Iraqi Muslims said that the neighbouring countries had turned their backs on Iraq. The poll, billed as the first-ever opinion poll in the war-ravaged country in the last 25 years, had seen 668 men and 332 women take part in it. It was conducted on April 22 and 23 in 25 different locations in the Iraqi capital, according to NDTV. NDTV said the questionnaire included 8 questions including two on the perception about India for which the answers will be released later. Twelve per cent of all respondents were Christians.
