Being the spitting image of Saddam Hussein has not served Mohamed Bishr well.

 

The Egyptian, who looks remarkably like the former Iraqi dictator, says a group of men in Alexandria tried to force him to perform in a pornographic film so they could claim they had found footage of the despot. Bishr says he was beaten and thrown into the back of a van. He was quickly released, or rather dumped out of the vehicle when passers-by gathered around the scene.

 

Bishr’s son claims his father was previously offered $333,000 to play Hussein in the sex tape. But he refused.

 

Meanwhile, a replica of the Iraqi ex-leader has made headlines. Following the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, U.S. Marines toppled a bronze statue of Hussein in Baghdad’s Al-Fardoss square. British soldier Nigel “Spud” Ely then took the opportunity to break off one of the buttocks, and later had it shipped home to London.

 

The “souvenir” will be auctioned off soon and the money raised will go to help injured ex-servicemen in Britain and the U.S.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

 

Saddam 'Double' Escapes Alexandria Porn Kidnap Gang, Again (Ahram Online)

Former SAS Hero Sells Saddam's Bronze Buttock (British Forces Broadcasting Corporation)