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France says "deeply deplores" executions in Saudi Arabia

Xinhua, January 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

France deeply deplores Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 people including a Shiite cleric, calling on regional leaders to do everything to avoid exacerbating sectarian and religious tensions, the French foreign ministry said on Sunday.

The ministry in a statement reiterated France's constant opposition to the death penalty "in all places and all circumstances."

On Saturday, the Saudi Interior Ministry announced that prominent Shiite leader Nimr al-Nimr and 46 other men were executed on terror charges. Most of the executed were Saudis who were allegedly involved in a series of attacks carried out by al-Qaida from 2003 to 2006. Nimr was a driving force behind anti-government protests that broke out in the country 2011.

The executions triggered anger of Iranian protesters who set fire to the Saudi Embassy in Tehran late Saturday. Endit