New Delhi, Nov 7: Former Prime Minister V P Singh today joined the chorus of protests against the award of death penalty to deposed Iraqi President Saddadm Hussein, saying the government should take a strong stand on the issue and also mobilise international opinion against the sentence.

''Saddam Hussein has always stood by India and today the government should take a strong stand that death penalty is not to be given to him,'' Mr Singh said.

He also denounced US President George Bush for making a travesty of justice in this case, holding him responsible for attacking Iraq on grounds which were baseless.

''The entire world is aware that no weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq. Not only that, around 55 lakh people have died, a majority of them being civilians,'' he said.

Mr Singh also accused Mr Bush of being responsible for human rights violations in Iraq. ''Is Mr Bush not really responsible and answerable?'' he asked.

Further, the former Prime Minister said the due process of law was not followed in Mr Saadm Hussein's trial. ''Three of his lwayers were killed and the judges who showed the gumption of taking an independent stand were removed,'' he pointed out.

He said the government should make efforts to pro-actively mobilise other countries to send the message that ''we stand for our friends.''

UNI

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