Iraq ratifies death verdicts for 12 terror convicts

Baghdad, July 29 (Xinhua-ANI): The Iraqi Presidency Council ratified the death penalty verdicts for 12 terror convicts, including two from other Arab countries, Iraqi official television reported on Sunday.

"The Iraqi Presidency Council approved the death penalty verdicts for 12 terrorists, including two (non-Iraqi) Arab nationals," The state-run television of Iraqia said.

The convicts were found guilty for their involvement in terrorist acts, the channel said without giving further details.

According to the Iraqi law, execution verdicts must be signed by President Jalal Talabani and his two vice presidents.

Although Talabani disapproves death penalties on principle and refrains from signing such sentences, he authorized Shiite Vice President Khudair al-Khuzaie to sign the verdicts in his stead.

The death penalty in Iraq was suspended for over a year after the U.S.-led invasion of the country. Paul Bremer, then U.S. administrator for Iraq, suspended its use on June 10, 2003.

However, the Iraqi government reinstated the capital punishment on Aug. 8, 2004, saying that it would curb the widespread violence in the country. Since then, scores of people have been executed, including the toppled Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. (Xinhua-ANI)