starting World War Three -- because we sent Bermuda shorts to Saddam Hussein.

Half a dozen readers also contacted our offices on Par-la-Ville Road to complain that Saddam would vent his fury on Bermuda after we sent him the 42-inch khaki shorts.

One man said he hoped our Editor, David L. White, would be the first victim of Iraq's inevitable bombing attack on Bermuda.

Other callers to the radio talk shows said the dictator must already be re-pointing his infamous Scud missiles towards our tiny Island.

The hysteria was caused because we ran a front page picture and story yesterday, about how one of our reporters sent the shorts to Saddam.

Iraq's military leader issued a decree last week banning his people from wearing shorts, because they "inflame the passions of women''.

Initially, his move was condemned by Bermuda's top tourism and retail officials.

But we stepped in to send Saddam the shorts as a goodwill gesture when everybody else we contacted backed down.

Tourism Director Gary Phillips, Shadow Tourism Minister David Allen and retail executives David Hamshere and Lawrence Trimingham were all too worried to post the shorts.

Now we have been accused of putting Bermuda at risk and "disrespecting'' Saddam Hussein.

One talk show caller even said other punters should have a whip-round for our reporter, so he could be given a one-way plane ticket to Baghdad.

ZBM presenter Everest DeCosta agreed that Bermudians had been placed at risk, saying the story could cause a diplomatic incident similar to that which drew Japan into World War Two.

He added: "Saddam may not see the funny side to it. You don't play with people who don't play.

"This shows extreme contempt for the respect of religion in Iraq. And it could backfire seriously. It could.'' Other callers publicly urged the Governor and Government to send official letters to Saddam, distancing themselves from The Royal Gazette 's story.

One man also called for Bermudians to boycott the newspaper.

And another said: "It's just like sending mini skirts to Mother Theresa.'' Jittery locals fear dictator's wrath after `gift' Another caller added: "We haven't got the weapons to defend ourselves against Saddam's weapons.'' But Moslem spiritual leader Iman Ameer-Shakir said he was "amused'' by our gesture and did not find it offensive.

And Deputy Governor Peter Willis said last night that no apology would be sent to Saddam.

He said: "It is highly unlikely that the shorts will arrive anyway because of the UN embargo in Iraq.

"That remains in place because Iraq has not complied with several UN regulations. That would appear to be the end of the matter.'' And Gazette Editor David L. White said he was saddened that so many Bermudians had suffered a humour by-pass and appeared to sympathise with a "mass murdering monster''.

He added: "I never listen to the talk shows. I have been told that there has been some complaining on the talk shows today and we have had five or six complaints here.

"One man suggested that we had encouraged Saddam Hussein to bomb Bermuda and he hoped he would bomb me first.

"One lady objected to our hurting Saddam Hussein's feelings and by being thoughtless towards him in referring to him as `Baggie-dad' in a picture caption.

"Then one man even said we didn't have permission to send these shorts and he was going to report us to the authorities.'' Mr. White added: "First of all, there was no intent to give any offence to anyone who subscribes to Saddam Hussein's religion, or to the downtrodden people of Iraq.

"I find it most offensive that a number of Bermudians give every impression of having sympathy for this mass murdering monster who will go down in history along with Hitler and Attila the Hun.

"However, the thing that I find most sad is that Bermudians seem to have totally lost any sense of humour.''