India on Sunday reacted guardedly to the death sentence awarded to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, saying such verdicts should not appear to be "victor's justice" and should be acceptable to the people of Iraq and the international community.

"Such life and death decisions require credible due process of law," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in New Delhi in a statement.

Mukherjee said India has always stood for a peaceful resolution of the problems of Iraq and "we hope that this verdict will not add to the suffering of the people of Iraq."

Mukherjee noted that there is an automatic appeal procedure.