January 1

Three Saudi Men Beheaded for Sodomy

 RIYADH, Saudi Arabia  - Three Saudi men were beheaded Tuesday for committing acts of sodomy and ``seducing young men,'' the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

 Ali bin Hatan bin Saad, Muhammad bin Suleiman bin Muhammad and Muhammad bin Khalil bin Abdullah were executed in the southwestern mountain resort city of Abha in Asir province, according to the statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

 The three men ``committed acts of sodomy, married each other, seduced young men and attacked those who rebuked them,'' the statement said.

 The executions were the first this year in Saudi Arabia, where beheadings are public and done with a sword. Last year, at least 81 people were beheaded.

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