France 'deplores' Saudi execution of Shia cleric, urges calm

France today condemned Saudi Arabia's execution of 47 prisoners including a Shiite cleric and called on regional leaders to "do everything to avoid exacerbating sectarian and religious tensions" after riots in Shiite-dominated Iran.
France "deeply deplores Saudi Arabia's execution yesterday of 47 people, including a Shiite religious leader," the foreign ministry said in a statement, reiterating Paris' opposition to the death penalty "in all places and circumstances.