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- By Parinda News Bureau, December 27, 2006, 12:45 IST
The Indian government has expressed hope that the death sentence awarded to deposed Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, upheld by a Baghdad court Tuesday, will not be carried out and that he will be spared,
'It is our hope that the sentence will not be carried out and that the former president's life would be spared. We would also hope that no steps are taken which might obstruct the process of reconciliation and delay the restoration of peace in Iraq,' a statement issued by the external affairs ministry spokesperson said.
The statement came within hours as soon as the Iraqi National Security Adviser Mouwafak al-Rubaie confirmed in Baghdad that an appeals court had upheld Saddam's death sentence.
Iraqi Higher Tribunal spokesman Raed Juhi also said the verdict had been confirmed and the court would release a statement soon, Xinhua reported.
Saddam was sentenced to death on Nov 5 for 'crimes against humanity' and for killing 148 people in Dujail village after a failed assassination attempt on him in 1982.
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