In a damage control exercise, United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon has expressed strong support for the demand by the top human rights officials that Iraqi President Jalal Talabani stop the execution of two high-ranking colleagues of former President Saddam Hussein, who was hanged on Saturday.
Ban, who was criticised by rights organisations for not coming out as strongly as his predecessor Kofi Annan against the death penalty, sought to explain his remarks and soften his stand on the issue.
UN chief spokesperson Michele Montas said Ban believes that the UN should move towards abolition of the death penalty but the member States have their own views.
"He recognises that there is no consensus at the United Nations over the issue of the death penalty," she added, pointing out that there was a debate at the General Assembly a few years ago and it ended up with the majority of member States opting for refusing to condemn the death penalty.
"He recognises the fact that we are trying to work towards the abolition of that practice. However, he acknowledges also the fact that member States have their positions on the issue," she added.
Until the matter is resolved, he respects the right of member States to have their own positions on it.
Ban had landed himself into controversy right on his first day in office over what observers say were his attempts to dilute the world body's strong stand against the death penalty.
"The concerns that I expressed just days ago with respect to the fairness and impartiality of Saddam Hussein's trial apply also to these two defendants," the statement said. "I have therefore today directly appealed to the President of the Republic of Iraq to refrain from carrying out these sentences."
But Ban has not taken any stand on the fairness or otherwise of the trial and Montas said he was only speaking about the execution.
Noting that the death sentences on the two were upheld together with that on Hussein, she said that under Iraq's international obligations, the country is bound to afford the two the opportunity to seek commutation or pardon of the sentences.
Until the matter is resolved, he respects the right of Member States to have their own positions on it. "However, the secretary-general strongly believes in the wisdom of Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states, 'everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person," she added.
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