Saudi executes two foreigners for drugs smuggling

RIYADH, Oct 29 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia executed two foreign men today for smuggling drugs, taking to 14 the number of reported executions in 2006.

The official Saudi news agency said Adam bin Mohamed Ali Hassan from Nigeria and Mahmoud Haji Shadi from Afghanistan were executed in the western city of Jeddah on the Red Sea coast.

The Saudi interior ministry said the two men were caught in separate incidents smuggling cocaine and heroin.

Saudi Arabia implements strict Islamic law and usually carries out executions by public beheading with a sword. The country executed 86 people in 2005 and 36 in 2004.

Officials have not explained the fall in executions in the first half of this year, which follows criticism from human rights groups over the high rates in previous years.

Saudi Arabia executes convicted murderers, rapists and drug traffickers.

Reutes AD RN1731