TEL AVIV, June 12: A young couple in Israel has resorted to legal action to name its baby after former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.

Media reports on Thursday said Israeli Interior Minister Avraham Poraz reversed a decision banning the Arab Israeli couple from naming their new-born boy Saddam Hussein.

Anwar and Muna Zabarka had been told Israeli law prohibits people from giving their children names that are offensive to the public, but the minister cited freedom of speech.

Little Saddam was born shortly after US-led troops ousted his namesake, long considered the most hostile leader and the biggest threat to Israel.

Israeli Arabs and their descendents are Palestinians who did not flee or were not kicked out when the state of Israel was created in 1948. Saddam donated money to the families of suicide bombers and was a vocal supporter of the Palestinian armed struggle.—AFP