Every year, Saddam Hussein celebrates his birthday at a rally in his hometown of Tikrit. This year, there were 350 posters of the president. Iraq used to be famed for its art. Now, because of the UN trade embargo, Iraqi's previously thriving artists now earn most of their money painting pictures of Saddam Hussein.
Rumours of Saddam's ill-health were squashed when the President stayed in freezing cold at a rally for hours, shooting a rifle into the air. The scene is still shown on TV, months later.