India hopes Saddam's life is spared

New Delhi, Dec 26 (UNI) As the Iraqi Appeals Court in Baghdad confirmed the death sentence on deposed President Saddam Hussein, India tonight hoped that his life would be spared and that no steps were taken which would delay peace in the embattled country.

The External Afairs Ministry, in a statement, expressed the hope that the sentence would not be carried out and no steps taken which might obstruct the reconciliation process and delay the restoration of peace in Iraq.

''We have seen reports that the Appeals Court in Baghdad has confirmed the death sentence on former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. It is our hope that the sentence will not be carried out and that the former President's life would be spared. We would also hope that no steps are taken which might obstruct the process of reconciliation and delay the restoration of peace in Iraq,'' the statement issued by the Ministry said.

An Iraqi Appeals Court earlier upheld the death sentence imposed on Saddam Hussein at his first trial. An Iraqi court had on November five, sentenced the deposed Iraqi President to death holding him guilty of the massacre of 148 people in a Shiite town in 1982 after an attempt on his life there.

The Appeals Court decision has to be ratified by Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and two Vice-Presidents. Once the decision is ratified, Saddam Hussein would be hanged within 30 days.

The Appeals Court also upheld death sentences for Saddam's two other accomplices--his half-brother and the head of Iraq's Revolutionary Court during his Presidentship.

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