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Execution tragic, says Vatican

VATICAN CITY: The Vatican on Saturday termed the execution of the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, ``tragic.'' It risked fuelling revenge and new violence in Iraq.

``An execution is always tragic news, reason for sadness, even in the case of a person who is guilty of grave crimes,'' the Holy See's spokesman, Rev. Federico Lombardi, said in a statement released by the Vatican press office.

Earlier in the morning, Rev. Lombardi made similar comments on Vatican Radio.

``The position of the Catholic Church — against the death penalty — has been reiterated many times,'' he said in the statement, referring to the Vatican's overall opposition to capital punishment. — AP

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