- BAGHDAD -- The new Iraqi
flag received a mixed response yesterday, with many Baghdadis saying it
reminded them of Israel's.
-
- Depicting a crescent, representing Islam, above two blue
lines, for the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, and another stripe in yellow,
the colour of the Kurdish minority, the flag is supposed to show the unity
of the new Iraq. Its white background is meant to symbolise peace.
-
- But many Iraqis were far from pleased with it. "When
I saw it in the newspaper I thought it was like the flag of the Jews,"
said Ali Abdel Aljabbar, 25.
-
- "Anyway, why are the politicians interested only
in flags when they should be solving the problems of security and basic
services?"
-
- Mahmoud Abu Qassin, 36, said he preferred the old flag
of red, white and black with three green stars and the words "God
is great".
-
- The new flag was unveiled after a competition set up
by the Iraqi Governing Council. The winner, chosen from 30 entries, was
designed by Rifaat Chaderchi, an Iraqi artist.
-
- Some Iraqis were delighted with the design. "Everbody
is happy with it," said Sam Mati, 40, an optician.
-
- "I am Kurdish and my father was imprisoned by Saddam
for six years."
-
- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/04/28/
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