Iraq to bring unwanted Saddam yacht home

The Iraqi government has decided to bring home a yacht once owned by ousted dictator Saddam Hussein after failing to find a buyer for it in Europe, because of the world economic crisis.

no takers: The Ocean Breeze will return to Iraq by the end of this month

The Iraqi government has decided to bring home a yacht once owned by ousted dictator Saddam Hussein after failing to find a buyer for it in Europe, because of the world economic crisis. The Ocean Breeze, which was built in 1981, will be sailed back to Basra, said government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh .

Iraq had tried to fetch up to $30 million (Rs 147 crore) in France for the 270-ft pleasure boat, which features gold taps in its bathrooms, a mini-operating theater, a helicopter landing pad and a secret escape passageway.

But Dabbagh said the global economic turmoil had driven away buyers and reduced the likely proceeds from the sale of the yacht to below what Iraq considered to be its real value.

The vessel will return to Iraq when the maintenance contract with a Greek company runs out at the end of January, he said.