Iraqi's living in Ireland today thanked the United States and Britain for removing Saddam Hussein and asked that they be allowed rule their country themselves.
The Iraqis were speaking at a march this afternoon to celebrate the removal of Saddam Hussein as ruler of their country. Starting at Trinity College Dublin, they marched to the US embassy in Ballsbridge to hand in flowers and a letter of thanks to the US government.
A spokesman for the Iraqi Human Rights Organisation, Mr Khalid Ibrahim, told ireland.comthat today was an "historical day".
"Today is the day when 35 years of killing by Saddam has come to an end. We are here to celebrate the removal of the worst dictator of all time. He [Mr Hussein] used chemicals to kill us," said Mr Ibrahim.
"Thank you Mr Bush Thank you Mr Blair," added Mr Ibrahim.
However, not all of the Iraqis marching were grateful to the US and Britain.
"We saw pictures of hundreds of Iraqis celebrating the removal of Saddam in the streets of Baghdad. There are thousands behind closed doors grieving at the death and destruction brought to them by the war," said Ms Nuria Mustafa.
"There are seven Iraqi families in Galway who are not celebrating because they cannot get in contact with their families.
"I'm ecstatic he is gone, but the regime that supported him is now on the ground. Iraq has been devastated by US led sanctions for 13 years and they are still in place.
"Soon, once the dust settles, the Iraqis will be telling the US and Britain to get out," added Ms Mustafa.
Ms Mustafa and Mr Ibrahim did agree that Iraq should be run by Iraqis.
Mr Ibrahim said that Iraq was an "intellectual country" and that it could be a "shining example of democracy in the region".
Ms Mustafa said: "I would be grateful to the Americans if they left us alone to run our country now".
Around 25 Iraqis attended today's march.