Man, Woman Beheaded in Saudi Arabi

A Saudi man and a woman were beheaded Monday for murdering a Saudi man and stealing his money and car, the Interior Ministry said.

 Al-Tarqi bin Atallah al-Salbi and Noura Hamad were found guilty of killing Falah al-Dawish and stealing, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

 The convicts lured al-Dawish to a deserted area, stabbed him, and beat him with an iron tool before burning his corpse and stealing his money and car, the statement said.

 It did not mention when the death verdict was issued but said both convicts were beheaded Monday in the Qariet al-Alyya province, about 200 miles east of the capital, Riyadh.

 The executions raised to at least 42 the number of people beheaded this year in the Gulf kingdom. At least 81 were beheaded last year.

 Saudi Arabia follows a strict interpretation of Islam. It imposes the death penalty for murder, rape, drug trafficking and armed robbery.

 Beheadings are carried out in public with a sword.