New, Largest Mosque To Bear Saddam Hussein’s Name

Government workers began construction Sunday on a mosque designed to be the world’s largest and named after Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Iraqi television showed workers building the foundation Sunday, the Islamic holiday Leilit el-Khader, or the “Night of Power,” when Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed began receiving the Koran, Islam’s holy book, from God.

The mosque is to be built on the site of Baghdad’s old airport and is designed to cover nearly 1.2 million square yards and accommodate 45,000 worshipers.

A mosque built by Morocco’s King Hassan is currently the largest in the world, with a capacity for 30,000 worshipers.