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Saudi Arabia executes seven despite pleas for clemency

Arab World Materials 13 March 2013 15:20 (UTC +04:00)

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.

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