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| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Saddam hanging deplorable - Brown | Saddam hanging deplorable - Brown |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Gordon Brown has condemned as "deplorable" the way in which Saddam Hussein's execution was conducted. | Gordon Brown has condemned as "deplorable" the way in which Saddam Hussein's execution was conducted. |
| The chancellor told BBC One's Sunday AM the manner of the former Iraqi leader's hanging was "completely unacceptable". | The chancellor told BBC One's Sunday AM the manner of the former Iraqi leader's hanging was "completely unacceptable". |
| Mr Brown, whose comments come after mobile phone footage of the hanging showed Saddam Hussein being taunted, said he was against the death penalty. | Mr Brown, whose comments come after mobile phone footage of the hanging showed Saddam Hussein being taunted, said he was against the death penalty. |
| Deputy PM John Prescott has already condemned the scenes as deplorable, but Tony Blair has yet to comment. | Deputy PM John Prescott has already condemned the scenes as deplorable, but Tony Blair has yet to comment. |
| Even those people unlike me who are in favour of capital punishment found this completely unacceptable Gordon Brown UN urges stay of executions | Even those people unlike me who are in favour of capital punishment found this completely unacceptable Gordon Brown UN urges stay of executions |
| Mr Brown said: "Now that we know the full picture of what happened, we can sum this up as a deplorable set of events. | Mr Brown said: "Now that we know the full picture of what happened, we can sum this up as a deplorable set of events. |
| "It is something, of course, which the Iraqi government has now expressed its anxiety and shame at. | "It is something, of course, which the Iraqi government has now expressed its anxiety and shame at. |
| "It has done nothing to lessen tensions between the Shia and Sunni communities." | "It has done nothing to lessen tensions between the Shia and Sunni communities." |
| He added: "Even those people unlike me who are in favour of capital punishment found this completely unacceptable and I am pleased that there is now an inquiry into this and I hope lessons in this area will be learnt, as we learn other lessons about Iraq." | He added: "Even those people unlike me who are in favour of capital punishment found this completely unacceptable and I am pleased that there is now an inquiry into this and I hope lessons in this area will be learnt, as we learn other lessons about Iraq." |
| On Wednesday the Iraqi government began an inquiry into the unofficial footage, which appeared on the internet hours after the execution. | On Wednesday the Iraqi government began an inquiry into the unofficial footage, which appeared on the internet hours after the execution. |
| Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has also said his government could review relations with any country which criticised the execution of ex-leader Saddam Hussein. | Iraqi PM Nouri Maliki has also said his government could review relations with any country which criticised the execution of ex-leader Saddam Hussein. |
| He said the hanging was a "domestic affair" for the benefit of Iraq's unity. | He said the hanging was a "domestic affair" for the benefit of Iraq's unity. |
| Shia slogans | Shia slogans |
| Last week Mr Prescott, in charge of the country while the prime minister was on holiday, also described the filming of the execution as "deplorable". | Last week Mr Prescott, in charge of the country while the prime minister was on holiday, also described the filming of the execution as "deplorable". |
| Mr Blair has said he will speak about the 30 December execution next week, although Downing Street said the PM supported an Iraqi investigation into the hanging. | Mr Blair has said he will speak about the 30 December execution next week, although Downing Street said the PM supported an Iraqi investigation into the hanging. |
| The prime minister's continuing silence is deafening Sir Menzies Campbell | The prime minister's continuing silence is deafening Sir Menzies Campbell |
| A spokeswoman said that Mr Blair will say something about the execution at "a time of his choosing". | A spokeswoman said that Mr Blair will say something about the execution at "a time of his choosing". |
| BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Brown's comment "not only pre-empts Tony Blair but also sort of boxes him into a corner". | BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said Mr Brown's comment "not only pre-empts Tony Blair but also sort of boxes him into a corner". |
| The prime minister's silence has already prompted the Liberal Democrats to question his leadership, she said. | The prime minister's silence has already prompted the Liberal Democrats to question his leadership, she said. |
| Education Secretary and deputy leadership candidate Alan Johnson told the Observer he also had concerns about the way the execution was carried out. | Education Secretary and deputy leadership candidate Alan Johnson told the Observer he also had concerns about the way the execution was carried out. |
| "I agree with John Prescott's remarks about the way it was handled and I am an opponent of the death penalty. | "I agree with John Prescott's remarks about the way it was handled and I am an opponent of the death penalty. |
| "But it was a matter for the Iraqi people to make that judgment. | "But it was a matter for the Iraqi people to make that judgment. |
| "What happened at the end shouldn't detract from the terrible crimes that Saddam committed." | "What happened at the end shouldn't detract from the terrible crimes that Saddam committed." |
| Initial Iraqi government film showed Saddam being executed in a relatively dignified manner, however mobile phone footage emerged showing Saddam - a Sunni - being taunted with Shia slogans. | Initial Iraqi government film showed Saddam being executed in a relatively dignified manner, however mobile phone footage emerged showing Saddam - a Sunni - being taunted with Shia slogans. |
| Following Mr Brown's remarks, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The prime minister's continuing silence is deafening. | Following Mr Brown's remarks, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: "The prime minister's continuing silence is deafening. |
| "His unwillingness to condemn the shameful scenes surrounding Saddam Hussein's execution does him no credit." | "His unwillingness to condemn the shameful scenes surrounding Saddam Hussein's execution does him no credit." |