Baghdad newspaper calls on Rumsfeld to resign over Abu Ghraib

Saturday, May 15th 2004, 11:03 am

By: News On 6

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) _ A major Iraqi newspaper urged Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld on Saturday to resign, joining the international outcry for him to step down over the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal.

The newspaper Azzaman, in its front-page editorial, also cited a meeting between Rumsfeld and Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, when Rumsfeld served under President Reagan.

``Rumsfeld, known for his past links with Saddam, should have announced his resignation in Baghdad to satisfy the poor Iraqi people,'' the newspaper said.

Rumsfeld paid a one-day visit to Iraq on Thursday to look into the prison scandal and boost the morale of U.S. troops.

``He should have gone to Abu Ghraib prison to look for those deliberately hidden ... or to announce the release of all detained in Abu Ghraib and then go to pray to get forgiveness for the abuses he inflicted on Iraqi people,'' the newspaper said.

Four U.S. soldiers have been charged in the abuse and humiliation of Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib. The first trial is set to begin Wednesday.