Sudanese beheaded in Saudi Arabia

A Sudanese citizen charged with killing a Saudi national was beheaded by Saudi authorities on Monday, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

The statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, said the Sudanese, Abdullah Mohammed Ahmed, stabbed to death Ibrahim bin Saghir because of a dispute. He was executed in the northern city of Hail.

Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed.

Monday's execution brought to 85 the number of people, including two women, beheaded in the kingdom this year. Executions are performed with a sword and in public as a deterrent. The kingdom beheaded 38 people last year and 83 people in 2005.