'Good grandma' flies to Iraq

A GRANDMOTHER and a nun are among nine Mexicans who left for Iraq last week to serve as humans shields at a Dominican hospital in Baghdad.
Mercedes Perollo, a 55year-old university worker, said before their departure that she was exhausted, nervous and excited after preparing for the month-long trip.
"I've been a good grandma for a long time. Now I'm becoming politically active," said Mrs Perollo, who organised the group.
Also in the brigade is Vincentian Sister Maria de la Luz Rodriguez, who first made contact with the Dominican monks in Iraq and offered the group the opportunity to volunteer for an institution that is independent of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
"We want to show our solidarity with the Iraqi people, not with Hussein," Mrs Perollo said.
The group expected to join hundreds of other foreigners acting as human shields in case the United States begins bombing Iraq.