RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 12 (UPI) -- Saudi authorities Tuesday beheaded a Yemeni national convicted of murdering a compatriot and a Saudi citizen in the southern Saudi Arabian city of Abha.
The convict, also convicted of robbing his victims, was put to death by sword, also in Abha, raising to 21 the number of people executed in the Muslim kingdom since the beginning of the year.
Three Saudi border guards were executed last month in the city of Arar near the Saudi-Iraqi border after being convicted of facilitating the smuggling of drugs.
A government statement warned against crime and drug trafficking, punishable by death under Saudi law, which follows Islamic Sharia, or religious law.
Executions are held in public for those who are convicted of murder, rape, armed robbery and drug trafficking.
Some 52 people, including expatriates, were executed in Saudi Arabia in 2003.
