Sue Hartigan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: BAGHDAD, Iraq (Reuters) - Official Iraqi news media Tuesday praised President Saddam Hussein on his 61st birthday as a "blessing from God," brushing aside a U.N. decision to prolong punitive sanctions against Iraq. Government newspapers were full of poems and articles recounting Saddam's feats. Shabab television, run by his eldest son, Uday, changed its name to "Birthday TV" and broadcast special programs. Loudspeakers in the capital Baghdad blared out: "Happy birthday to you, Saddam Hussein! May God add from our age to yours!" The newspapers said celebrations were held in villages, towns and cities across Iraq. In every provincial center, ruling Baath party officials and crowds of people took part, handing out free cakes, chocolates and beverages. In Tikrit, Saddam's home town, a festival was planned with senior members of the government and Baath party officials attending. Journalists were also invited. The president usually marks his birthday by receiving groups of singing and dancing children from across the country. Saddam has ruled since 1979, leading the country through the 1980-88 war with Iran and then the Gulf War when U.S.-led forces evicted Iraqi troops from Kuwait in early 1991. Baghdad radio broadcast interviews with writers, officials, sports figures and ordinary citizens who pledged loyalty and backed Saddam's fight against what they called unfair sanctions imposed by the United Nations after the invasion of Kuwait. The U.N. Security Council renewed the sanctions late on Monday, although the United States acknowledged for the first time that Iraq had made some progress on scrapping its nuclear weapons program. Iraq defied the United Nations and Washington earlier this year when it barred U.N. arms inspectors from entering eight so-called "presidential sites," saying they were vital for its sovereignty and security. The dispute provoked a buildup of U.S. and British forces in the Gulf and the threat of strikes against Iraq if it did not give the inspectors access. But the crisis was defused in late February when U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan struck a deal with Iraq, and the arms monitors then carried out a first round of inspections of the compounds which ended on April 3. Iraq says it has complied fully with demands to get rid of its weapons of mass destruction and called for an immediate lifting of the embargo on trade, including its vital oil exports. A meeting of the powerful Revolutionary Command Council chaired by Saddam earlier this month threatened that Iraq's foes would pay a heavy price if sanctions continued. In Amman Tuesday, the first humanitarian flight by a U.S. disaster relief group since the Gulf War took off for Baghdad carrying medical supplies and a Hollywood movie star. Guy Smith, vice chairman of the non-profit group AmeriCares, told reporters the shipment was to express compassion for ordinary Iraqis. Hollywood star Val Kilmer, among the 23 volunteers on the mission, told Reuters he was excited but refrained from commenting on U.S. policy toward Iraq or the impact of sanctions on Baghdad. Under a special deal with the United Nations, Iraq is allowed to sell $2 billion worth of oil every six months to pay for food and medical supplies. An enhanced deal will permit Iraq to sell up to $5.2 billion worth of oil in the next six-month period which begins in June. But it says it can only meet a maximum ceiling of $4 billion because of damage to its oil sector during the Gulf War, the sanctions and low oil prices. -- Two rules in life: 1. Don't tell people everything you know. 2. Subscribe/Unsubscribe, email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the body of the message enter: subscribe/unsubscribe law-issues
