Breaking News: Former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein
executed 2006-12-30
11:01:50
Special Report: Execution of
Saddam
Special report: Tension escalates in
Iraq
BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The execution of former
Iraqi President Saddam Hussein on Saturday drew mixed reactions from governments
and organizations.
British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said
Saddam had been "held to account", but reiterated the British government's
opposition to the use of the death penalty.
She said that the British government welcomes the
execution of Saddam for some crimes he committed against the Iraqi people, but
advocates "an end to the death penalty worldwide".
"But we respect their decision as that of a sovereign
nation," said Beckett.
"Bringing Saddam Hussein to justice will not end the
violence in Iraq", said U.S. President George W. Bush in a statement. He also
described the execution as "an important milestone" on Iraq's course to becoming
a democracy.
France, which opposes the death penalty, said in a
statement that the decision of execution belongs to the Iraqi people and the
Iraqi sovereign authorities. The statement called on the Iraqi people to work
for reconciliation.
Iran's official IRNA agency reported that Iranian
Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Reza Asefi hailed Saddam's execution as a victory
for all Iraqi people.
Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in
a statement that Australia respects Iraq's decision and that the execution
"marks an important step in pursuing a process of reconciliation now and in the
future," adding that Australia supports the abolition of capital punishment.
Tomohiko Taniguchi, deputy press secretary of Japan's
Foreign Ministry, said Japan respects the decision made by Iraqi government
according to due process and legal procedures, and hopes the execution would
become a source of reconciliation among the Iraqi people.
Brazilian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that
Brazil doesnot believe the execution would contribute to bringing peace to Iraq.
Malaysia, which currently holds the chair of the
Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), expressed its surprise on Saddam's
execution and questioned the legal procedures under whichthe sentence had been
carried out.
U.S.-based human rights group Human Rights Watch
condemned the hanging, saying history would judge Saddam's trial and execution
"harshly".
India's governing Congress Party called the hanging
as "unfortunate". Janardhan Dwivedi, general secretary of the party, said in a
statement that India hopes the execution "will not standin the way of the
process of restoring normalcy and reconciliation in Iraq."
Related:
Chinese FM spokesman on execution of
Saddam Hussein
BEIJING,
Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said here
Saturday that the Iraqi affairs should be decided by the Iraqi people.
Qin made the remarks when asked to comment on the
execution of Saddam Hussein. He said China hopes Iraq can realize stability and
development in an early date.
Saddam Hussein, born on April 28, 1937, was deposed
by the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.
He was hanged on Saturday morning after he was handed
over to the Iraqi authorities for execution.
Bush hails execution of Saddam
Hussein
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President George
W. Bush on Friday hailed the execution of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam
Hussein as "an important milestone" on the road to building an Iraqi democracy.
"It is an important milestone on Iraq's course to becoming
a democracy that can govern, sustain and defend itself, and be an ally in the
war on terror," Bush said in a statement issued just about one hour after Saddam
was hanged in Baghdad, Iraq.
Saddam executed by
hanging
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Ousted Iraqi President Saddam Hussein
reacts in court during the Anfal genocide trial in Baghdad December 21,
2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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