India disfavours death to Saddam

NEW DELHI: As an Iraqi appeals court upheld the death sentence awarded to Saddam Hussain, India on Tuesday expressed itself against it saying no step should be taken which could delay restoration of peace in the troubled country.

"We have seen reports which said that appeals court has confirmed death sentence" awarded to Hussain, External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna said here.

"It is our hope that the sentence will not be carried out and the former President's life would be spared," he said.

Sarna said New Delhi also hopes that "no steps are taken which might obstruct the process of reconciliation and delay restoration of peace in Iraq."

India's reaction came after the appeals court approved the verdict to hang Hussain.

An Iraqi court sentenced the former Iraqi President to the gallows on November 5 this year for the 1982 killings of 148 people in a Shiite town after an attempt on his life there.