A PROTESTER is flying back to Baghdad in a bid to help the people of Iraq.

Former human shield Dieter Seager, of Washington Road, Accrington, will fly back on Saturday and hopes to get into Baghdad to provide humanitarian relief for the embattled residents of Iraq's capital city.

Dieter flew back from the region last month after spending all his time in Amman, the capital of Jordan. His soldier nephew Steven Dixon, 22, remained in the region as part of the British army.

But now he vows to reach Baghdad and said: "It's scarier this time with the Americans now in Baghdad, but I have to do something to help the people of the city."

Prior to his flight from Heathrow he has said his goodbyes again to his mum Jean in Accington and friends in London, Cambridge and Bradford.

The 28-year-old former Clayton-le-Moors care worker will stay at the same hotel, Al Saraya, he stayed at previously to continue his administrative work for the organisation Operation Human Shield. But he said he will try to get into Iraq this time to help the people there.

"I'll be flying back to Jordan and starting off where I left off working on the administrative side of the organisation. But I hope to get into Baghdad to provide humanitarian aid for the residents there.

"I want to experience it over there, but I also want to show the people there that not all westerners are blood thirsty."

Mum Jean, 57, of Clarence Road, said: "I am incredibly proud that Dieter cares enough about people and peace to go back. Of course I worry about him, I know it will be a lot riskier this time so as his mum I am very scared for him.

"But peace has to be worth fighting for and he fights in his chosen way and my admiration for him and and the other peace volunteers just grows and grows."