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Deplorable: Prescott

Hasan Suroor

LONDON: Britain's Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who is also currently the acting Prime Minister as Tony Blair is on vacation, has condemned the manner of execution of the former Iraqi President, Saddam Hussein, and called for action against those responsible for it.

"I think the manner was quite deplorable really," he told the BBC on Tuesday reacting to the leaked footage of the ugly scenes, which took place before and after the execution.

Asked if he held the Iraqi Government responsible, Mr Prescott said whoever was behind it should be "ashamed''. "I don't think anyone can endorse it whatever your view on capital punishment,'' he said. In remarks which, according to observers, reflected deep unease at the highest levels of the British Government over Hussein's hanging, Mr Prescott said: "Frankly, to get this kind of recorded messages coming out is totally unacceptable and I think whoever is involved and responsible for it should be ashamed of themselves."

His outspoken comments were the first from a senior Government figure on the Iraqi Government's handling of Hussein's execution.

He also said that the British Government had made it clear to the Iraqi administration that it was opposed to death penalty.

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