AN IRAQI exile who initially opposed the invasion of his country says he has now changed his mind completely.

A year on from the start of the 26-day conflict, Ramiz Abbawi, 24, says Iraq's future is brighter than if Saddam Hussein had remained in power.

The business student, of Pickhurst Lane, Bromley, believes he was "blinded by passion" when he spoke out against the war last March.

But now he says he can see the good which is being done in Iraq despite recent bombings, thought to be the work of al-Qaeda.

He said: "Despite the bombings things are getting better. I am able to look at the bigger picture today.

"A year ago I was blinded by passion from seeing thousands of my fellow countrymen dying.

"But Iraq would not have been able to survive another 10 years under Saddam.

"I think its future will be brighter now and I am looking forward to going back."

A poll of 2,500 Iraqis last week found six out of 10 believed life was better now than under Saddam Hussein.

However, while half of those questioned believe the invasion was right, compared with 39 per cent who said it was wrong, more than four in 10 said they had no confidence in coalition forces and half opposed their presence.

Mr Abbawi, who attends London Guildhall University, hopes to get a job with the Iraqi government when he returns home after finishing his degree.

He fled the northern city of Mosul in 2002 after the authorities discovered his father was a communist party member.

His parents and sister fled to Holland and are waiting for the security situation to get better before they return.

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