Saudi Arabia beheads woman

Saudi Arabia today beheaded an Indonesian cleaner convicted of killing her employer, the Interior Ministry announced.

The ministry said the maid used a pillow to suffocate her employer Aisha Al Makhaled and then stole her jewellery in the southern province of Asir.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which those convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery are executed in public with a sword.

The woman is the second person to be executed this year in the desert kingdom. Saudi Arabia beheaded 137 people last year, up sharply from the 38 in 2006.