Saudi beheads national for shooting dead compatriot

RIYADH, July 3  - Saudi Arabia beheaded on Thursday a Saudi man who was convicted of gunning down a compatriot during an argument, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

The execution raised to at least 17 the number of people put to death this year in the desert kingdom, which enforces strict Islamic sharia law.

At least 45 people were executed last year, but this was a sharp drop from 121 in 2000.

The Gulf Arab state executes murderers, rapists and drug smugglers, usually by public beheading.