Saddam must step down

Observers, particularly in Iran, believe that Saddam's presidency will continue to pave the way for greater influence of unwanted forces, particularly the United States, in the region.

They also believe that the economic and political situation in the region will deteriorate because of uncertainties in this strategically important part of the world.

More petrodollars will fly West for purchase of sophisticated weapons, most of which will be obsolete even before they reach the Middle East.

As far as the defections from Iraq are concerned, this is not a new phenomenon, because 30,000 Iraqis have fled to Jordan since the 1991 six-week war fought by Saddam's regime against a U.S.- led 33-nation coalition.

All these Iraqis were forced to escape economic hardship due to UN sanctions which made the life of ordinary Iraqis miserable.

Whatever arguments are given by the regime in Baghdad for defections of the ruler's close family members, it is clear that Saddam is rapidly losing his grip on power and it is obvious that his downfall is imminent.

Just after the defections, the United States dispatched senior military officials to debrief the defectors. These debriefings are important and alarming. There is every possibility that following the interview with Saddam's sons-in-law, the United States could announce, as it has done in the past, certain conclusions in order to justify its own illegitimate presence in this region.

Analysts believe that Saddam is in power because the United States wanted him to stay in power, otherwise, his regime would have been toppled right after its crushing defeat when its forces were thrown out of Kuwait in 1991.

President Saddam Hussein should seriously reconsider his position and surrender power voluntarily in the interest of the oppressed Iraqi population and the region as a whole.

That country of 20 million is sitting atop oil reserves second only to Saudi Arabia, but it is in financial chaos and is confronted by one crisis after another.

Five years ago the Iraqi dinar was worth a little more than three U.S. dollars but today, one dollar fetches anywhere from 600 to 700 dinars, while salaries have remained the same.

-- Iran News, Tehran