BECKETT STATEMENT ON THE EXECUTION OF SADDAM HUSSEIN

Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett said:

'I welcome the fact that Saddam Hussein has been tried by an Iraqi court for at least some of the appalling crimes he committed against the Iraqi people. He has now been held to account. The British Government does not support the use of the death penalty, in Iraq or anywhere else. We advocate an end to the death penalty worldwide, regardless of the individual or the crime. We have made our position very clear to the Iraqi authorities, but we respect their decision as that of a sovereign nation.

'Iraq continues to face huge challenges. But now it has a democratically-elected government which represents all communities and is committed to fostering reconciliation. We will continue to work with this government and with the Iraqi people to build security and prosperity for the future.'

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