Government condemns Iraqi hangings

The Government has today condemned the executions of allies of Saddam Hussein.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said the hanging of the former dictator's co-defendants Barzan Ibrahim and Awad Hamed al-Bandar must be the last death sentences carried out by the Iraqi government.

Ibrahim, who was Saddam's half brother, and al-Bandar were both found guilty by Iraqi courts along with Saddam of the killing of 148 Shia Muslims in 1982.

"The Irish government is firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all cases. This is also the EU position, and it has been communicated very clearly to the Iraqi government," said Mr Ahern.

Last week, the Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani, and the UN secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon had urged the Iraqi government to suspend the executions.

Mr Ahern said today that he regretted that the Iraqi authorities did not listen to the international appeals.

It was claimed today that Ibrahim's head had become separated from his body during the hanging.

Mr Ahern added: "Reports on the gruesome circumstances of today's executions are very disturbing. I believe it is in the interests of justice and reconciliation in Iraq that the Iraqi authorities now take the step of ending executions.

"The priority now must be to stabilise the situation in Iraq, and help the Iraqi people to come together to rebuild their country after decades of the most brutal dictatorship and war.

"Iraq's neighbours must be encouraged to cooperate in this process and to end the slide towards terrible civil war.

"The EU will continue to assist the Iraqi people. The government last week announced assistance of a further three million euro for the large numbers of Iraqis who have been forced to flee their homes because of the appalling sectarian violence."