Brussels, 07/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - Martin Schulz, President of the Socialist Group at the European Parliament, has called for EU diplomatic efforts to prevent the execution of Saddam Hussein (see EUROPE 9300 on the first reactions of the EU to the death penalty on the former Iraqi dictator). All EU countries are against the death penalty, the German Social Democrat states in a press release, saying: “If Saddam is hanged, the evil that he did will quickly be forgotten. Allowing him to live out his natural life behind bars will keep alive the memory of his barbarous regime”. According to Martin Schulz, the execution of Saddam Hussein would only deepen existing divisions within Iraq and would prevent compromises being reached to find a peaceful future for the country. “An immediate death penalty would also deny the Kurdish people justice in seeing Saddam brought to trial for the terrible atrocities he is alleged to have perpetrated against them”, he said. (mg)