SAUDIS BEHEAD PAKISTANI DRUG DEALER

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- A Pakistani convicted of heroin smuggling
was beheaded in the Saudi capital of Riyadh on Monday, the Interior
Ministry said.

Eissa Khan Saeed-Allah was found guilty of smuggling an unspecified
amount of heroin into the kingdom.

The execution, carried out with a sword in a public square, brings the
number of people beheaded in the kingdom this year to 38. At least 99
people were executed last year.

Murder, armed robbery, drug smuggling and sexual crimes are punishable
by death under Saudi Arabia's strict interpretation of Islamic laws,
which also call for the amputation of hands and feet of thieves. Human
rights organizations have criticized the executions and amputations,
saying the accused do not receive fair trials.