Iraq executes 14 on terrorism, criminal charges

Baghdad, Feb 8 (IANS) A total of 14 people convicted for terrorism and criminal charges have been executed in Iraq, its justice ministry said Wednesday.

"Fourteen convicted prisoners were executed early morning, including a leader of the self-styled Islamic State of Iraq, in the city of Mosul," Xinhua quoted Haidar al-Saadi, a ministry spokesman telling reporters.

Death penalty was suspended for over a year in Iraq after the US-led invasion of the country. Paul Bremer, then US administrator for Iraq, had suspended its use in June 2003.

The Iraqi government, however, reinstated the capital punishment in August 2004, saying that it would curb the widespread violence in the country.

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