Saudi authorities Wednesday executed seven men, two of them reportedly juvenile offenders, for armed robbery, despite international pleas for clemency, dpa reported.
The seven Saudis, who were convicted of a series of armed robberies on gold shops in 2005, were executed by a firing squad in the southern city of Abha.
Rights groups including Amnesty International last week called on Saudi Arabi to halt the executions.
US-based Human Rights Watch said at least two were juveniles at the time of the offences.
The execution by shooting rather than public beheading - as traditionally practised in the kingdom - comes days after local media reported that Saudi authorities were considering a change in execution method due to a shortage of headsmen.
The executions bring the number of death sentences implemented this year in Saudi Arabia to 23. The conservative kingdom executed 76 convicts in 2012.