UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- The top U.N. human rights official has appealed directly to Iraqi President Jalal Talabani to delay the execution of two former high-ranking Iraqi officials.
In a statement issued Wednesday, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour said the trials of Awad Hamad Al-Bandar and Barzan Ibrahim Al-Hassan had not met international standards of fairness.
"International law, as it currently stands, only allows the imposition of the death penalty as an exceptional measure within rigorous legal constraints," Arbour said.
The statement echoed Arbour's earlier plea for restraint made prior to the Sunday execution of Saddham Hussein. The three men were tried jointly.
Arbour said Iraq is bound under its international obligations to afford the two the opportunity to seek commutation or pardon of the sentences under international law.
"All sections of Iraqi society, as well as the wider international community, have an interest in ensuring that a death sentence provided for in Iraqi law is only imposed following a trial and appeal process that is, and is legitimately seen as, fair, credible and impartial," Arbour said.
Through a statement issued by his spokeswoman, the new U.N. secretary-general, Ban Ki-moon, echoed Arbour's concerns, while voicing hope that the death penalty would eventually be abolished.
Iraq is one of more than 70 countries worldwide that still practice the ultimate punishment.
