GENEVA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Switzerland reacted on Saturday to the execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, calling the death penalty "unjustifiable".

    Saddam, who was captured in December 2003 by American soldiers, was hanged at dawn on Saturday in northern Baghdad for "crimes against humanity".

    In a statement, the Swiss Froeign Ministry said it condemned the serious crimes committed by Saddam, but disapproved of the use of the death penalty, Swiss Radio International reported.

    "For Switzerland the death penalty cannot be justified, even for the most serious crimes. This fundamental position also applies to the case of Saddam Hussein," the ministry declared.

    It added that Switzerland remains "extremely concerned" about the dramatic insecurity in Iraq and hopes that the Iraqis can "overcome past challenges" and find ways of "ensuring peaceful reconciliation and of building a democratic society."