New Delhi: Iraq on Wednesday adopted a temporary new national flag, as part of its attempted national reconciliation.
It is still red, white and black but three green stars representing Saddam's motto of unity, freedom and socialism, have been removed.
The phrase 'Allahu Akbar' or God is Greatest, which used to be in Saddam's own handwriting, is now in regular script.
Government officials on Wednesday hoisted the new flag over Parliament.
They decided to replace the old flag to pacify the country's Kurdish minority for whom it was a reminder of Saddam Hussein's brutality.
But some Iraqis are unhappy that their old banner is being replaced. Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki led the symbolic ceremony in Baghdad's heavily guarded Green Zone.
"It is one of the steps towards boosting ties and eradicating the traces of the past, which is connected with a lot of suffering, blood, chemical weapons, mass graves, the Anfal and sufferings and political adventures, which was regrettably committed under this banner,” said Maliki.
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