Two Saudi men beheaded for rape

May 8, 2002 

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) -- Two Saudi men convicted of raping a woman were beheaded on Wednesday in the capital Riyadh, the Interior Ministry said.

It said Faleh bin Saad al-Qahtani and Saad bin Mlees al-Baqmi intercepted a man and his wife on a main street and forced the woman into their car, took her to a remote desert area and raped her.

 Wednesday's executions raised to 13 the number of convicts put to death this year in the kingdom.

Last year, at least 81 people were beheaded in the oil-rich Arab nation, which follows a strict interpretation of Islam and imposes the death penalty for murder, rape, drug trafficking and armed robbery.

 Executions are performed in public with a sword.