Manner of latest Iraq execution 'wrong': Britain

AFP on Yahoo ^ | 1/15/07 | AFP

[NormsRevenge]

LONDON (AFP) - British Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said that the way in which Saddam Hussein's half-brother was executed was "wrong", after it emerged his head was severed during hanging.

Human rights groups criticised the punishment after the Iraqi government said "no violations" had occurred but confirmed that Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti's head was ripped from his body as he swung on the gallows.

Speaking to reporters Monday afternoon, Blair's spokesman restated Britain's opposition to the death penalty and again said it recognised Iraq's right as a sovereign government to make its own decision on capital punishment.

"However, we emphasised (to the Iraqi government) if the executions were to be carried out, they should be done so in a dignified way," he said.

"Now if, as it appears to have been the case, that it didn't happen, then that clearly was wrong.

"But the manner of death should neither obscure the crimes that these people committed against the Iraqi people, nor excuse the manner (of the execution) if indeed it did go wrong."

Al-Tikriti, Saddam's former intelligence chief and half-brother, and Awad Ahmed Bandar, the former head of the revolutionary court, were executed at dawn, the Iraqi government in Baghdad said Monday.

Both were sentenced to hang on November 5 by a special court along with ousted president Saddam Hussein for their part in the killing of 148 Shiite Muslims in the 1980s.

Saddam's execution on December 30, before which he was taunted by Shiite guards and observers, drew criticism worldwide for the way it was handled by the Iraqi authorities.

Blair was attacked for initially remaining silent over the hanging. But he also eventually branded the manner of the former dictator's execution as "completely wrong".

Britain lobbied "at the highest level" to spare Saddam's life the day before he faced the gallows, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said in a letter made public last week.

London's reaction to the latest hangings Monday morning was initially more muted, with the Foreign Office and Blair's office refusing to criticise Iraq for carrying out the executions until the decapitation was confirmed later.

[NormsRevenge]

Blair finds manner of Saddam hanging 'completely wrong' ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1764319/posts
Posted by presidio9
On News/Activism ^ 01/08/2007 1:46:50 PM PST · 34 replies · 600+ views

Associated Press ^ | 01/08/07
Prime Minister Tony Blair believes the manner of Saddam Hussein's execution was "completely wrong". Blair has been under fire for refusing to speak on the subject, and criticism of his silence mounted after both his deputy and his finance minister condemned the hanging of the deposed Iraqi dictator as "deplorable" and "completely unacceptable". In his first engagement since returning from a New Year holiday in Miami, Blair said he would speak about the execution next week. Downing Street declined to say when and how Blair would make his comments on Saddam's hanging. "In terms of what he will say next...

[NormsRevenge]

Combo of photos taken in 2006 in Baghdad at the Iraqi High Tribunal trial, shows Saddam's half-brother and former intelligence chief Barzan al-Tikriti (R) and Awad Ahmed al-Bandar (L), the former head of the "revolutionary court" that ordered 148 Shiite villagers executed. Saddam Hussein's half-brother and the head of his defunct Revolutionary Court trembled with fear as they were hanged, more than two weeks after the deposed Iraqi dictator's bungled execution triggered worldwide condemnation.(AFP/Files)

[Christian4Bush]

Come on, Brits...let's not lose our heads over this...

[Allegra]

Hey, that's just how Iraq does things.

The guy ended up dead and they achieved their objective. ;-)

[NormsRevenge]

Reuters

Graphic fact file on Barzan Ibrahim al-Tikriti and Awad Ahmed al-Bandar. Tikriti and Bandar trembled with fear as they were hanged, more than two weeks after the deposed Iraqi dictator's bungled execution triggered worldwide condemnation. .(AFP/Graphic)

[SolidWood]

WTF!? Why is this "wrong"? They hanged those two rats and one of them was simply too fat! They didn't do it on purpose. Note how Saddam's neck had a huge tear after he dropped... That's what happens when you drop-hang a fat turd.

[Long Island Pete]

Was Nick Bergs execution wrong also since his head came off also or was it done right because that was the whole intention?

[Jaysun]

His head came off. So what? Nothing some duct tape and a turtleneck sweater can't fix.

[BRITinUSA]

The length of the rope was the problem. The length is determined by the weight of the convicted. Too short and the nexk won't break, too long and the head will be severed.

They used rope that was too long.

[SolidWood]

Lol!

[Red Badger]

Nothing to lose your head over, Tony.......

[HarmlessLovableFuzzball]

Yes it's wrong. It's wrong because the other one still had his head screwed on.

[clamper1797]

Maybe they should use the short drop for now on ?

[Jeffrey_D.]

Another Video of Decapitation........8 minutes.


http://www.dailymotion.com/visited/search/jerome%20murat/video/xf9oo_jerome-murat

[dforest]

Sounds okay to me. They are dead. I don't think they will complain. Shame they don't fuss over good people dying.

[Thrownatbirth]

How can you argue against Conservation of Momentum?

[Waco]

And to hell with "their" victims.

[B.O. Plenty]

At least Irak kills their enemies....unlike some other countries I could mention.

Hell, if they did things like Britian, the old criminals would be comfortable the rest of their miserable, worthless lives....have access to courts, lawyers, all the "human rights" groups and protesters.

The pain in the ass factor is too great for Irak to put up with....so adios criminals.

[SamuraiScot]

the way in which Saddam Hussein's half-brother was executed was "wrong"

Yes, as I read the rubrics, the head should have been mounted on a pike along London Bridge.

I know you Brits are jealous, but you just have to wait your turn until the Iraqis are done with him.