A FORMER general in Saddam Hussein's regime is set to give an Easter Sunday speech at a Newport church.

Georges Sada was one of the Iraqi dictator's top generals and military advisers in the 1980s and 90s, a man who had the ear of one of the world's most reviled dictators.

His best-selling book Saddam's Secrets exposes remarkable stories from inside Iraq's sinister regime.

Now General Sada, a born-again Christian, is coming to Gwent to talk about his life working with Saddam.

On the only Welsh date on his visit to the UK, General Sada will speak to an audience at King's Church, Pill, on Easter Sunday.

The Reverend Raymond Bevan, 57, the evangelist minister at the church, made contact with the general through Terry Law, a Canadian peace worker who helped deliver medical and relief supplies to Iraq.

King's Church supports Mr Law in his mercy missions to war-torn countries across the world, and he arranged the meeting. Rev Bevan said: "The general worked for an evil man but he worked for peace.

"He persuaded Saddam not to invade Israel, and stood up for what he believed was right on many occasions.

"He was unique within Saddam's regime as a born-again Christian. It is one of the reasons Saddam wanted him as an adviser." During the first Gulf War in 1990 the general was put in charge of prisoners of war in Iraq.

In 1998 he became involved with the International Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, working towards peace in the region.

Now General Sada is a spokesman for new Iraqi Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari and director of the Iraqi institute for peace.

Mr Bevan said: "We realise having a man who worked for Saddam talk to us is controversial, and hopefully people will come because of that. "People will learn the truth about what went on in the regime and what the Iraqi people feel about the invasion. "This guy was there and saw it personally."

Mr Bevan is inviting Newport politicians to the meeting, which takes place on Sunday, April 16, at 6pm at King's Church, Lower Dock Street, Pill. Entry is free.