Special Report: Execution of Saddam Hussein

    JAKARTA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government hoped the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein will not worsen relations between the warring parties and complicate national reconciliation efforts in the country, a spokesman said on Saturday.

    "The Indonesian government hopes Saddam Hussein's execution will not widen the divide between the warring parties in Iraq and not obstruct efforts to bring about national reconciliation which is a precondition for the restoration of Iraqi sovereignty," Antara news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Desra Percaya as saying.

    "The death sentence passed on Saddam -- which was confirmed by the higher court after an appeal process -- was proof the legal process in Iraq that had taken place although the on-going conflict there was not an ideal situation for a truly fair legal process," the spokesman said.

    Desra Percaya said that the execution did not come as a surprise as the law had been carried out although not perfectly and Saddam had been given a chance to defend himself.

    An appeal court on Tuesday upheld Saddam's November 5 death sentence for crimes against humanity in the killing and torture of and other crimes against 148 Shi'ites after a murder attempt against him in the town of Dujail in 1982.

    The hanging could complicate efforts by Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to heal Iraq's sectarian divisions with violence spiraling out of control and threatening to pitch the country into full-scale civil war, local reports said.