World leaders respond to Saddam´s death

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-31-2006 08:45

World leaders have been weighing in on the execution of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein. Division remains about whether the former Iraqi strongman should have been executed.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry says the execution is Iraq's internal affair and should be decided by the Iraqi people. The ministry also says China hopes Iraq can achieve stability and development at an early date.

Sadam Hussein was put to death days before the arrival of the new year. US President George W. Bush has stated that justice has been served with the execution. A close ally of the Bush Administration, Australian Prime Minister John Howard says the Iraqis had given the dictator a fair trial.

European leaders are united in their opposition to the death penalty. They have also expressed deep concerns over the security situation in Iraq in the post-Saddam era.

Angela Merkel, German Chancellor, said, "While the German government respects this verdict, it is well-known that the German government opposes the death penalty."

Romand Prodi, Italian Prime Minister, said, "I don't want to only express my personal reservations on the death penalty. I also wish to express my concern for a possible increase in tensions in the area. That is happening in the first hours following the execution. I hope that the situation won't get even worse in the future. "