Saudi executes two men for drug smuggling, murder

RIYADH, Nov 14 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia executed a Pakistani murderer and a drug-smuggler from Chad today, taking to 22 the number of reported executions in the conservative Muslim kingdom this year.

The official Saudi Press Agency said the Pakistani man was convicted of bludgeoning a fellow national to death with a rock.

The man from Chad was caught smuggling cocaine into the country.

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 the number of executions in 2006 but it follows criticism from human rights groups over high rates in previous years.

Saudi Arabia executes convicted murders, rapists and drug traffickers.

REUTERS MS PM1551