Saddam held to account for crimes against Iraqis-UK

LONDON, Dec 30 (Reuters) Saddam Hussein has been held to account for some of his crimes against the Iraqi people, British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said after the former Iraqi president was executed today.

''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,'' she said in a statement.

A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said Beckett's statement ''spoke for the whole government including the prime minister'' and she did not expect Blair to say anything more.

Britain was US President George W Bush's main ally during the 2003 invasion of Iraq and still has some 7,200 troops in the country.

Saddam's execution has put Blair's government in a difficult position however because of its opposition to the death penalty.

''The British government does not support the use of the death penalty, in Iraq or anywhere else,'' Beckett said.

''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,'' she said.

''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,'' she added.

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