UPA scared of America: Jyoti Basu

Kolkata, Dec 31 (UNI) Alleging that the UPA government was ''afraid'' of America, veteran marxist leader Jyoti Basu today said India's reaction to Saddam Hussein's execution should have been stronger.

'' They are afraid of the US. The government should have come out with a stronger reaction,'' Mr Basu told newspersons after attending the CPI(M)'s state committee meeting.

The UPA government yesterday described the excecution of the former Iraqi ruler as unfortunate.

The leader said Saddam Hussain was falsely implicated and the present Iraqi government did not have any right to hold his trial.

'' America has occupied Iraq and is running a puppet government there, which does not have the right to hold trial or pronounce death sentence on Saddam Hussein,'' he said.

UNI