An Iraqi deserter has spoken of his sadness at the capture of toppled dictator Saddam Hussein.

Amer Albazaz, who fled Iraq for Sussex, described Saddam's regime as "brutal" and "murderous".

But he was horrified by the way American forces paraded the former Iraqi leader after discovering him in a basement near Saddam's hometown of Tikrit in Iraq.

Mr Albazaz, who lives in Telscombe Cliffs with his English wife, described the capture of Saddam as "a black day - another chapter of sadness in Iraq's history."

But others did not share his sorrow, including West Sussex resident Sir Hilary Synott, regional co-ordinator for the Basra-based Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA).

Sir Hilary yesterday revealed how he was "delighted" Saddam was now in US custody.

Mr Albazaz has family in Baghdad who still fear for their lives daily.

His ten-year-old cousin was killed earlier this year when he picked up an unexploded bomb dropped by coalition forces.

Mr Albazaz said: "A few Iraqis were celebrating when Saddam was captured but many were very saddened. What the Americans did to him was degrading.

"He was the president of our country for 25 years and I would have expected him to be treated with some dignity. But instead he was treated in much the same way the Iraqi people have been treated - with utter disrespect."

He is convinced those who have been fighting the coalition troops since Saddam was toppled will continue regardless.

He said: "They are not fighting for Saddam. They are fighting to get the Americans out of their country. The wounds inflicted by America are deeper than those of Saddam."

Mr Albazaz said Saddam should be treated as a prisoner of war in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

He believes his trial should be by an international court, not necessarily in Iraq, but fears it will be nothing more than a show trial.

He said: "It should be a public trial. Saddam will want to bring the West down with him, reminding the world that it was America and Britain who supplied him with arms and the chemicals for weapons."

Despite his grudging respect for Saddam, Mr Albazaz says the death penalty should be an option.

He said: "He murdered a lot of people and justice should be done. But something tells me death may be his greatest wish. Imprisonment for the rest of his life would perhaps be a more fitting punishment."

Mr Albazaz works at Oathall Community College in Haywards Heath and moved to Sussex in the Seventies after completing a degree at the University of Brighton.

He returned to Iraq briefly in 1986, when he was forced to join the army and fight against Iran.

He deserted his post - a crime punishable by death - and fled to England with his wife and then young children.

Sir Hilary has responsibility for Iraq's southern provinces and works with the CPA administrator, US ambassador Paul Bremer, who announced Saddam's capture with the words: "Ladies and gentlemen - we got him."

Sir Hilary, a former visiting fellow at Sussex University, said locals celebrated Saddam's final downfall by firing joyous gunshots into the air.

He said: "There was a feeling of great pleasure which I witnessed myself. People were very glad Saddam had been deposed but that did not mean they necessarily welcomed us.

"But particularly after August, we felt the mood had changed to one of co-operation and reconciliation. They have come to realise the coalition really wants to help."

Imam Abduljalil Sajid, leader of Muslims in Sussex, shared Sir Hilary's joy at Saddam's capture, although he condemned the US-led war.

He said: "I am pleased a brutal dictator has been caught and I hope justice will be done. He will receive a severe punishment for the horrific way he has treated other human beings.

"I hope this is the beginning of a new chapter in our world. It is time for the sensible people of the world to come together to work for peace, not war."

He believes Saddam's trial should be in Iraq, facilitated by the coalition forces.