Japan, a close US ally, said today it respected Iraq's decision to execute ousted dictator Saddam Hussein, saying the move was based on the "rule of law".
"This is a decision made by Iraq's new government on the rule of law," a foreign ministry official said. "We respect it."
Australia, which opposes capital punishment, said today it respected Iraq's decision to execute Saddam Hussein, calling it a "significant moment" for the war-torn country.
"No matter what one might think about the death penalty, and the government of Iraq is aware of the Australian government's position on capital punishment, we must also respect the right of sovereign states to pass judgement relating to crimes committed against their people,within their jurisdictions," Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said in a statement.
"He has been brought to justice, following a process of fair trial and appeal, something he denied to countless thousands of victims of his regime."
Australia contributed troops to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, which led to the ouster of Saddam. It still has about 1,300 troops involved in operations in the area.
"The people of Iraq now know that their brutal dictator will never come back to lead them," the foreign minister said.
"While many will continue to grieve over their personal loss under his rule, his death marks an important step in consigning his tyrannical regime to the judgement of history and pursuing a process of reconciliation now and in future."
We welcome execution: Iran
Iran today welcomed the execution of its former arch-foe Saddam Hussein, saying his hanging was a victory for all Iraqis, Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Reza Asefi said, according to the IRNA agency.
To spark new instability: Russia
The execution of Saddam Hussein will only spark new instability in the war-torn country and across the region, Russian lawmakers warned today.
"This is going to cause a new spiral" of violence, said Mikhail Margelov, head of the international relations committee in the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council.
"The execution of Hussein will destabilise the situation, not only in Iraq but in the whole Gulf region," added Leonid Slutsky, a deputy in the lower chamber, the State Duma, ITAR-TASS news agency reported.
Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq and ousting of Saddam, who was executed Saturday by hanging at an undisclosed location controlled by Iraqi forces.
There will be repercussions: Malaysia
Malaysia today expressed surprise at the execution of Saddam Hussein, saying it risked triggering more bloodshed in Iraq, and urged the government to work quickly for national reconciliation.
"A lot of people, the international community generally, are not in favour of the hanging and question the due process that took place," Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar told AFP.
"We are surprised that they went ahead nowithstanding. I think there will be repercussions. The only thing is we hope they will be able to contain this. Because the conflict is not going to end. This is not the answer."
The Malaysian foreign minister said that whatever the nature of the allegations against Saddam, he should have been entitled to the due process of the law.
"I think Saddam has committed a lot of wrongs... But he should have been tried in accordance with international law and subsequently the appeal process should have been done properly," he said.
