Government officials said that they had decided to...

Government officials said that they had decided to replace the colonial criminal code with a new law, PANA news agency reported. The new bill, which is to be ratified by parliament, would retain the death penalty clause. Justice Minister Joseph Gnonlonfoun justified maintaining the death penalty in the new criminal code stating that people demanded "supreme punishment for some unacceptable crimes. Furthermore, Benin could become a haven for some of the worst criminals in the region should capital punishment be scrapped."