Saudi executed for murder

Saudi Arabia Monday executed a Saudi man convicted of having strangled a compatriot to death following a disagreement between them.

The Interior Ministry said Ali bin Ahmed Shahizi was found guilty of killing a teenager, Ibrahim Akili, by strangling him.

The execution, usually carried out by beheading with a sword in public, brings to 53 the number of people put to death in the oil-rich Arab kingdom since the beginning of the year.

As many as 35 people were executed in Saudi in 2004 and 52 in 2003, mostly drug traffickers and killers.

Saudi Arabia, which says it applies strict Islamic law, hands the death penalty to convicted murderers, rapists, repeated drug traffickers and Muslims who denounce their religion.

© Copyright 2005 by United Press International