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Article: Saddam Hussein builds palaces to rival Versailles
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- March 19, 1995
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1995 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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IRAQIS who left Baghdad this week have confirmed American
claims that President Saddam Hussein has spent more than pounds
1.22bn since 1990 building new palaces and renovating old ones.
"They are like the palaces in stories of Sinbad and Arabian
Nights," said an Iraqi builder involved in putting the final
touches to the biggest and most elaborate of President Saddam's 30
or so palatial projects.
The builder - who would not disclose his name - described the
palace of Maqar-el-Tharthar, which is built on the surface of a
lake north west of Baghdad.
"It is at least four or five times bigger than the White House,"
said the Iraqi worker, who had a brief stop in London on his way to
join his ...