Australian Prime Minister John Howard backed executing...

Australian Prime Minister John Howard backed executing al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden if he was captured, despite professing to be against the death penalty. Mr Howard said he thought bin Laden would be dealt with under United States law, which provided for capital punishment. Asked if he would welcome that, Mr Howard responded: "I think everybody would." A spokesman said Mr Howard still opposed the death penalty because of the possibility of executing the innocent.