AN Iraqi Kurd living in Blackburn after fleeing torture at the hands of Saddam Hussein's forces says he is "jubilant" at the success of the second Gulf War.

Asylum seeker Ata Arif, 39, of Brookway, has spent hours every day charting the progress of the conflict on television and "can't believe" Saddam Hussein's rule is finally at an end.

But the former teacher has warned the Allies they must keep their promise to improve life for the Iraqis, though democracy may take a long time to arrive.

Ata, his wife Nazk and their sons aged 10, six and one have watched the progress of the conflict closely, and Ata said: "When I wake up every morning I can barely believe it's real. The fall of Saddam Hussein and the Ba'ath regime is a very great thing. We are jubilant.

"Life is going to be much better for the people in Iraq, especially the Kurds, now the Allied soldiers are there.

"I just hope that this time the allies will stay and find real solutions to the problems, especially for the Kurdish people who are so often the sacrificial lamb.

But he believes democracy will take a long time to arrive in Iraq. He said: "When I was at University in Baghdad I saw how people worshipped Saddam, how they believed he had created the world. Democracy as we know it in England will take a very long time to get to Iraq. I don't know if it will ever work." Ata left his home in Turzkhurmatu, between Kirkuk and Baghdad, in May last year after he was tortured for teaching his 15-year-old students about the concept of Marxism.

Ata said: "It wasn't any sort of political statement but a means of teaching for the children. I think everyone should be free to live where they can learn and have that personal freedom and security.

"We're all very happy over here. The children are settled at school and we don't have to worry about our security.

"I'm pleased all my friends and family in Iraq are celebrating too."