Basra rebel who helped oust Saddam

By Ryan Dilley BBC News Online correspondent in Basra

Royal Marines faced fierce resistance in Basra

At the beginning of the war, it was rumoured that the people of the southern Iraqi city Basra had risen up against Saddam Hussein. These claims later proved unfounded. However, Al-Waly Ehways says his local rebel group did take up arms to oust the Iraqi army and aid the US-led invasion.

When the war began we attacked Amara, a city north of Basra. We were the ones who liberated it.

The Iraqi soldiers there had tanks and armoured cars. We were armed with only simple guns and rocket-propelled grenades. But we also had belief in our fight and the army no such belief. So we were stronger.

True, we also had telephones to call the Americans to bring in helicopter gunships.

Since Saddam rose to power, we have been living in Hell.

Al-Waly Ehways

There was some fierce fighting, but soon the Iraqi soldiers simply left their equipment and escaped. The next day the British and Americans arrived unopposed in a peaceful city.

There has been fighting since.

The soldiers and fedayeen are wearing civilian clothes, but still carrying guns. Six days ago, my nephew was shot in the head by the fedayeen.

They were Arabs from other countries and have melted away again. We have tried to find them, but they are too frightened to fight us. They are good for nothing now, only messing in their trousers.

Al-Waly Ehways: "Life here will be better now"

Our group has been fighting Saddam since 1991. We are led by Abu Hatum. He is like Robin Hood. He was in the Iraqi army, but thrown out for political reasons. They chased him and he fled first to Iran and then to America. In America he asked for help to fight Saddam.

He is a legend here. He lives in the marshes of southern Iraq and few people know what he looks like or where he is. He once ate in a restaurant table near Saddam's men, and when he left he paid their bill. 'Tell them Abu Hatum paid for them,' he told the waiter.

We are happy to fight alongside him. We are all brave men and not scared to fight. Before Saddam we had kings and life was comfortable. Since Saddam rose to power, we have been living in Hell.

Cruel times

Every family has lost a relative to Saddam. For saying the least thing people were blindfolded and executed. He has been a cruel man to all of Iraq, not just here. But here we were not even allowed to fish in our river, the Shatt al-Arab.

This is the second time we have liberated Amara. We fought for it after the war in Kuwait in 1991. Then the Iraqi army came back and our people suffered. I blamed America and am still afraid that they may again leave and give Saddam the opportunity to come back.

But if God is willing, life here will be better now we are rid of Saddam. Once he is gone all other things will improve too.

The water and the electricity will return.

I am 100% sure that Saddam is alive and in Syria. It doesn't matter to me, he can stay there. Or the Americans can take him to America. Just so long as he isn't here.