Russia expresses regret

Russia today expressed regret over the execution Saddam Hussein, saying the Iraqi government ignored numerous appeals by representatives of various states...

Russia today expressed regret over the execution Saddam Hussein, saying the Iraqi government ignored numerous appeals by representatives of various states and international organisations to refrain from carrying out the death penalty.

Mikhail Kamynin, official spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in a statement that the former Iraqi leader8217;s death would aggravate the military and political crisis in the region and heighten ethnic-religious tensions in the country. 8220;The situation in Iraq is developing into a negative scenario. The country is plunged into violence and is on the verge of large-scale civil conflict,8221; he said.

8220;Political consequences of the former Iraqi president8217;s execution must be taken into consideration in this situation, all the more so because the matter of Saddam Hussein8217;s fate is a very sensitive issue for the Iraqi people,8221; he noted.

World leaders stand divided World political and religious leaders were divided over whether former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein8217;s execution on Saturday was a milestone towards peace or further conflict in West Asia.

US: 8220;Bringing Saddam Hussein to justice will not end violence in Iraq, but it is an important milestone on Iraq8217;s course to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain and defend itself, and be an ally in the war on terror,8221; President Bush said.

UK: British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said Saddam had 8220;now been held to account for at least some of the appalling crimes he committed against the Iraqi people,8221; while at the same time condemning the death penalty. PM Tony Blair was not planning to comment on the execution.

Kuwait: 8220;This is the best Eid gift for humanity,8221; said Saad bin Tafla al-Ajmi, former information minister of Kuwait, which was invaded by Iraq in 1990, setting off the Gulf War. IRAN: 8220;With the execution of Saddam, the life dossier of one of the world8217;s most criminal dictators was closed,8221; Iranian state TV reported on Saturday.

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LIBYA: Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi announced a three-day official mourning period and cancelled Eid celebrations. On Friday, Gadhafi told Al-Jazeera television that Hussein8217;s trial was illegal and that he should be retried by an international court.

VATICAN: Spokesperson Reverend Lombardi, called the execution 8220;tragic and reason for sadness.8221;

Pakistan: 8220;We have no sympathy with Saddam Hussein, but we will also say that he did not get justice,8221; said Liaquat Baluch, a leader of the Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal, a coalition of six religious parties. The latter is also known as United Action Forum.

AFGHANISTAN: President Hamid Karzai appeared to criticise the timing of the execution, but said it was 8220; the work of the Iraqi government8221;.