|PIC1|Following the news that former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, has been executed in northern Baghdad today, the world's leading figures and organisations have reacted in various ways to the news.

UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett
Saddam Hussein has been held to account for some of his crimes against the Iraqi people, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said following the former Iraqi president's execution on Saturday.

"I welcome the fact that Saddam Hussein has been tried by an Iraqi court for at least some of the appalling crimes he committed against the Iraqi people. He has now been held to account," she said in a statement.

However, Saddam's execution has put the British government in a difficult position however because of its opposition to the death penalty.

"The British government does not support the use of the death penalty, in Iraq or anywhere else," Beckett said.

"We advocate an end to the death penalty worldwide, regardless of the individual or the crime. We have made our position very clear to the Iraqi authorities, but we respect their decision as that of a sovereign nation," she said.

"Iraq continues to face huge challenges. But now it has a democratically elected government which represents all communities and is committed to fostering reconciliation. We will continue to work with this government and with the Iraqi people to build security and prosperity for the future," she added.

US President George Bush
The US head was quick to commend the execution, saying: "Today Saddam Hussein was executed after receiving a fair trial - the kind of justice he denied the victims of his brutal regime.

"Saddam Hussein's execution comes at the end of a difficult year for the Iraqi people and for our troops. Bringing [him] to justice will not end the violence in Iraq, but it is an important milestone on Iraq's course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain, and defend itself, and be an ally in the war on terror.

"Many difficult choices and further sacrifices lie ahead. Yet the safety and security of the American people require that we not relent in ensuring that Iraq's young democracy continues to progress."

The Vatican
The Roman Catholic Church, however, was just as quick to condemn the use of capital punishment. Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi said, "A capital punishment is always tragic news, a reason for sadness, even if it deals with a person who was guilty of grave crimes...

"The killing of the guilty party is not the way to reconstruct justice and reconcile society. On the contrary, there is a risk that it will feed a spirit of vendetta and sow new violence.

"In these dark times for the Iraqi people, one can only hope that all responsible parties truly make every effort so that glimmers of reconciliation and peace can be found in such a dramatic situation."

World Council of Churches
At the execution of Saddam Hussein, The global ecumenical representative body, the World Council of Churches' General Secretary, Dr Samuel Kobia issued a statement asking God to grant the nation of Iraq "the mercy, justice and compassion that it has long been denied" and "an end to fear and death that marked Saddam Hussein's rule and that continue now".

"We pray that those who hold power in Iraq now and in the future will create a new heritage of government for its people," said Dr Samuel Kobia. "May Iraq's leaders pursue reconciliation and mutual respect among all its communities."

While holding a leader responsible for his crimes is significant, Kobia said, "each taking of a person's life is a part of a larger tragedy and nowhere is this more apparent than in a land of daily killings". The WCC is opposed to the death penalty.

French Foreign Ministry
"France calls upon all Iraqis to look towards the future and work towards reconciliation and national unity. Now more than ever, the objective should be a return to full sovereignty and stability in Iraq."

"France, which like the rest of its European partners advocates the universal abolition of capital punishment, notes the execution of Saddam Hussein on Saturday. That decision was made by the people and the sovereign authorities of Iraq."

Alexander Downer, Australia Foreign Minister
"No matter what one might think about the death penalty, and the government of Iraq is aware of the Australian government's position on capital punishment, we must also respect the right of sovereign states to pass judgement relating to crimes committed against their people, within their jurisdictions."

"He has been brought to justice, following a process of fair trial and appeal, something he denied to countless thousands of victims of his regime."

"His death marks an important step in consigning his tyrannical regime to the judgement of history and pursuing a process of reconciliation."