EU condemns death penalty as Iraq executions loom

BERLIN, Jan 5 (Reuters) The European Union presidency condemned the death penalty today, as speculation mounted that the Iraqi government would soon execute Saddam Hussein's two co-defendants.

Germany, which assumed the rotating EU presidency on January 1, issued a statement drawing attention to Iraq's aim to execute the men after Saddam's hanging on Saturday inflamed sectarian passions.

''The EU is against the death penalty -- whatever the conditions,'' said the foreign ministry in Berlin.

Barzan al-Tikriti, Saddam's half brother and former intelligence chief, and Awad al-Bander, a former chief judge, were found guilty along with Saddam of crimes against humanity in the killings of 148 Shi'ite men from Dujail in the 1980s.

The Iraqi government has not set a date for the executions.

The EU said the Iraqi people deserved a better future and the working through of crimes committed in the previous regime could help reconciliation within Iraq.

''The presidency believes that in pursuing these crimes, the principles of a fair procedure must be respected.'' Several European countries criticised Saddam's hanging at the weekend.

Reuters AKJ RN2010