British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said Tuesday he was "appalled and disappointed" by China's decision to execute a British citizen for drug smuggling, DPA reported.
Akmal Shaik, 53, from London, was executed despite a last-minute plea by the British government early Tuesday. His family said he was suffering from a mental illness.
"I condemn the execution of Akmal Shaikh in the strongest terms, and am appalled and disappointed that our persistent requests for clemency have not been granted. I am particularly concerned that no mental health assessment was undertaken," Brown said in a statement released in London.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband also condemned the execution. He said Britain was "completely opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances."
Britain condemns execution of drug smuggler in China
See Also:
- Britain's Sun newspaper refutes Brown allegations over hacking
- Gordon Brown attacks "criminal activity" in British hacking scandal
- Blair: Brown was "maddening", with "zero emotional intelligence"
- Voting process begins to elect new Labour leader in Britain
- Gordon Brown's book a flop as Blair prepares for memoir launch
MOST READ
Read more news in category:
- Chairman of Latvian Parliament visits Georgia
- Membership of France in OSCE not to make sense if it continues to support Armenia
- INTERVIEW - Iranian ambassador to Azerbaijan: No country has courage to attack Iran
- OPEC: World oil demand growth to be weaker than expected due to economic concerns
- EU seeks India's help on Iran's nuclear program
