Saddam Hussein's execution may result in deterioration of the military and political situation in Iraq and heighten the ethnic and religious tension, the Russian Foreign Ministry's spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said on Saturday.

Russia as many other countries is against the death penalty, irrespective of motives for such court decisions, Kamynin was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying.

Kamynin noted with regret that numerous calls of representatives of various states and international organizations on Iraq's authorities not to carry out the capital punishment were ignored.

Political consequences of the former Iraqi president's execution must be taken into consideration in this situation, all the more so because the matter of Saddam Hussein's fate is a very sensitive problem for the Iraqi society, the diplomat said.

Moscow hopes for Iraqi people's wisdom and supports those influential Iraqi politicians who urge their supporters to restrain emotions, not to yield to possible provocations and jointly look for ways out of the extremely uneasy situation in Iraq.

Russia for its part is ready to help in every way to achieve a steady and comprehensive settlement in Iraq on a bilateral basis as well as by participating in collective efforts of the international community, Kamynin added.

Source: Xinhua