[Deathpenalty] death penalty news-----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Jan. 5



ITALY:

Rome to light Colosseum in death penalty protest


Rome will light up the Colosseum on Saturday to support Italy's campaign
for a United Nations moratorium on the death penalty, launched in the wake
of Saddam Hussein's hanging, the city's mayor said on Friday.

The Colosseum, once the site of bloody battles to entertain gawking Roman
spectators, is often lit to mark important events and days of national
mourning.

Italy, which has just taken up a temporary Security Council seat, said
this week it would take its campaign to the countries which had already
signed a non-binding declaration against the death penalty last year.

Some 68 countries have the death penalty, including the United States and
South Korea.

Saddam was hanged on Saturday and speculation is mounting that the Iraqi
government will soon execute his two co-defendants, his half brother and
former intelligence chief, Barzan al-Tikriti, and Awad al-Bander, a former
chief judge, now the focus of defence lawyer efforts.

(source: Reuters)