India disappointed by Saddam death sentence

NEW DELHI, Saturday, (AFP)

India, which had warm ties with the Iraqi regime of former dictator Saddam Hussein, condemned Saturday's execution of the ousted president, a foreign ministry statement said.

"We had already expressed the hope the execution would not be carried out. We are disappointed that it has been," said foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee.

"We hope that this unfortunate event will not affect the process of reconciliation, restoration of peace and normalcy in Iraq."

India's reaction came just hours after Iraq's former leader was hanged, as the violence-wracked country braced for possible reprisals by his remaining supporters.

India's former foreign minister Natwar Singh also said Saddam should not have been executed and expressed fears about the fallout.

"His life should have been spared and he should have been given life imprisonment. My own reaction is that it will arouse very strong passions in large parts of the world," he said.

Singh was sacked from his post this year following his involvement in a UN oil-for-food scandal involving Saddam's former regime.

"The reaction among Indian Muslims too, certainly a large part of them, will be anger."

India is home to around 130 million Muslims.

Oil-hungry India has traditionally sought good relations with its energy-supplying partners in the Gulf.