Iraqis Mark Saddam's Death

"There is no life without the sun and no dignity without Saddam," read graffiti in the former Iraqi leader’s hometown of Tikrit today, the first anniversary of his execution. Small groups of mourners came to his tomb to praise Saddam Hussein’s accomplishments, reports Reuters, amid tightened security in anticipation of attacks by die-hard supporters.

"A year has passed, (and) things are worse—we are ruled by Iran and America. The leader has been killed to satisfy Iran," said a Tikrit resident. While conscious of the threat of pro-Saddam violence, US officials believe it unlikely as many Saddam supporters have joined “concerned local citizen” militias to defend their neighborhoods from al-Qaeda in Iraq. (More Saddam Hussein stories.)