Saudi Arabia executes Pakistani killer

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 16 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia Saturday executed a Pakistani national convicted of killing a compatriot and robbing him.

The interior ministry said Mohammed Zadeh killed Suleiman Habib inside a building under construction in the city of Arar and stole his money.

The execution, usually carried out by beheading with a sword in public, brings to 53 the number of people put to death in the oil-rich Arab kingdom since the beginning of the year.

Saudi Arabia, which says it applies strict Islamic law, hands the death penalty to convicted murderers, rapists, repeated drug traffickers and Muslims who denounce their religion.