I hesitate to disagree with George Sada on Iraq. As a former henchman of Saddam Hussein, he clearly has more experience of the country than me.

I am surprised, however, to hear him, the director of the Iraqi Institute for Peace, backing the invasion and occupation of Iraq, which has claimed the lives of some 100,000 of his fellow countrymen.

Iraqis are no better off under the new regime and its US and British backers than they were under Sada's former friend, Saddam.

Pictures of abuse of prisoners in Abu Ghraib have shocked the world, but these are just the tip of the iceberg.

Amnesty International reports that "the fall of Saddam Hussein's government did not result in an end to torture and ill-treatment in Iraq.

"Rather, the Iraqi people continue to suffer human rights abuses that violate international law".

Mr Sada, that man of peace, introduced the death penalty for those "threatening national security" when he was member of the interim government that replaced Saddam.

Despite the attempts to stir up sectarian civil war, the Iraqis know who is really to blame for the agony their country is suffering.

A recent poll shows that 87 per cent of Iraqis want to see an immediate end to the American occupation.

I would suggest that they know better what is good for Iraq than Tony Blair, George Bush, or their puppets like Mr Sada.

MICHAEL EVANS Oxford Respect Marston Ferry Court Oxford