MARCH 29, 2003:

Mis'ed bin Ziyab al-Mutairi was beheaded with sword.

SAUDI ARABIA

Saudi beheaded with sword for murdering compatriot, Interior Ministry says

A Saudi man was beheaded Saturday after he was convicted of murdering a compatriot, the Saudi Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Mis'ed bin Ziyab al-Mutairi was found guilty of fatally shooting Yousef bin Shadad al-Mutairi following a dispute, the ministry said.

The statement did not say whether the men were related nor when the murder occurred. It had no further details.

The execution took place in the capital Riyadh and was the 2nd beheading this year.

Last year, at least 49 people were beheaded in this conservative Gulf kingdom. At least 81 people were beheaded in 2001.

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

Beheadings are carried out in public with a sword.