Iraq Rewards Hussein With Medal for ‘Historic Role, Noble Services’

NICOSIA, Cyprus —  The Iraqi government awarded President Saddam Hussein the country’s highest honor Monday in recognition of his “historic role” and “noble services to Iraq,” the Iraqi News Agency reported.

Hussein, whose forces were driven from Kuwait by the U.S.-led allies at the end of February, celebrated his 54th birthday Sunday.

Iraq’s highest award is the Rafidain medal, named after Iraq’s two rivers, the Euphrates and Tigris.

“It was a unanimous decision in appreciation of the president’s exceptional and historic role and noble services to Iraq,” Information Minister Hamid Youssef Hummadi said after a Cabinet meeting.