GAZA CITY, Dec 30: Palestinians in the coastal Gaza Strip on Saturday began sombre celebrations for Eidul Azha as they mourned the death of their ally Saddam Hussein.

“He was a hero, a symbol. The only one to support the Palestinian people,” said police officer Abdel Mokki, 25.

The former Iraqi dictator was one of the most popular Arab leaders among inhabitants of the Palestinian territories.

Many streets in Gaza were deserted as Palestinians visited their families for the Muslim celebration, but those who were outside were quick to defend the former dictator.

“When I learned the news this morning I was filled with sadness. And anger. You can't kill such a leader. He was a president,” said 40-year-old policeman Hossam, declining to give his surname.

“They killed him because he always resisted America and the Israelis,” said Moussa, another police officer sitting in a patrol car.

Many people expressed anger that Saddam was killed on the day of their holy celebration.

“The Eid is a festival for us, a day of joy. They chose this date to try to weaken Arabs and Muslims,” said Bilal, a member of the national security services.

“But they won't succeed. This execution will, on the contrary, reinforce resistance in Iraq and elsewhere.”

Saddam earned unconditional support from Palestinians with his regular homage to ‘Palestine’, and provoked cheers of joy when he launched Scud missiles at Israel during the 1991 Gulf War.

“Long live Palestine,” the ex-dictator wrote in his last letter made public on Wednesday and addressed to Iraqis.

Some Palestinians in the West Bank displayed their loyalty to the executed former dictator

by joining angry demonstrations.

Around 200 protesters in a village south of Bethlehem carried a giant poster of the former Iraqi president and Iraqi, Palestinian and black flags, shouting: “With our blood we will avenge you, Saddam!”, witnesses said.

“What they did to Saddam Hussein is not legal,” said demonstrator Saji Zajri.

Meanwhile, some residents of the Bethlehem area chose not to take part in the Muslim feast that began just after the former Iraqi dictator's execution.

“I'm so sad at the death of Saddam that I'm not going to celebrate the Eid,” said Ahmed Abdel-Rabbo.—AFP