Saudi Man Beheaded for Murder

Sun Jun 16, 6:35 AM ET

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - A Saudi man was beheaded Sunday for murdering a compatriot, the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Mohammed bin Ali al-Khraim was convicted of fatally stabbing Mohammed bin Yahya al-Hamam following an argument over a traffic accident and was beheaded in the southern province of Najran, the statement said. It gave no further details.

At least 23 people have been executed so far this year in the kingdom. Last year, at least 81 people were beheaded in Saudi Arabia, which follows a strict interpretation of Islam and imposes the death penalty for murder, rape, drug trafficking and armed robbery.

Executions are carried out in public with a sword.