The Associated Press story on the third anniversary of the Baghdad's "Freedom Day", seen, for example, on the
CNN website
opens with the description of that day's even in 2003
"The holiday marks the April 9, 2003, event in which a huge crowd of Iraqis cheered as U.S. Marines hauled down the statue of Saddam Hussein on Firdous Square, marking the collapse of his regime."
This reporting is in error: by numerous reports, the statue pulling was done by the US Marines in the presence of a small, under 200 people, group, mostly US military, international press, and Ahmed Chalabi's ill-fated militia. Reuters had still photos of the scene that put the "huge crowd of Iraqis" claim to rest. See, for example, Information Clearance House article
The "crowd" can be seen on this image:
Chalabi's goons/freedom fighters can be seen below the fold
Call/e-mail AP: info@ap.org
From Information Clearing House: