IRAQ. GOVERNMENT DEFENDS DEATH PENALTY AHEAD OF EXECUTIONS

the Iraqi government defended its decision to reinstate the death penalty following a United Nations appeal for Baghdad to reconsider executing three convicted felons.
"I understand the position of international organisations including the UN and Amnesty International which are against the death penalty in general," government spokesman Leith Kubba told reporters.
"But we are faced with a reality in Iraq where people are murdering, and what we want is a sentence which punishes the hand that kills and the person who commits this crime." UN special envoy to Iraq Ashraf Qazi had urged the government not to go ahead with the country's first executions since the 2003 overthrow of dictator Saddam Hussein, who himself faced charges punishable by death.
Kubba said: "With all the respect I have for Ashraf Qazi, I think there is a consensus in Iraq that if there is no punishment, there is no security." The executions were due to take place in the town of Kut, 175 kilometres (110 miles) southeast of Baghdad, within the next few days.