UN against death penalty, but Saddam case diff

New York, Dec 31: The United Nations has asserted that it isagainst death penalty wherever it is implemented in the world butfollowing majority of Iraqis' desire for justice, it voicedunderstanding to deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein's execution.

''The United Nations stands firmly against impunity, andunderstands the desire for justice felt by the many Iraqis,'' SpecialRepresentative Ashraf Qazi, formerly a Pakistani envoy to the UnitedStates, said through a spokesman.

Copies of his statement were made available yesterday at UN headquarters in New York.

''Based on the principle of respect for the right to life,however, the United Nations remains opposed to capital punishment, evenin the case of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.''

UNI

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