PALESTINE. COUNCIL OF EUROPE ASKS NATIONAL PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT

the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) asked the National Palestinian Authority (Anp) to abolish the death penalty, and condemned the four executions which took place in Gaza on June 12.
In the approved resolution on the situation in the Middle East, the Assembly said it was dismayed by the decision of Palestinian President  Abu Mazen to resume executions following a three year break. The Assembly was contemplating offering the Anp observer status if free and fair elections were seen to take place inthe area within the end of the year. It was also necessary for the Anp to either abolish the death penalty or to implement a moratorium on executions.