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Foreign affairs experts fear increase in tensions

Special Correspondent

Hanging is unfortunate: Parthasarthy

NEW DELHI: Foreign affairs experts here feel that Saddam Hussein's execution carried out in the presence of foreign troops will exacerbate sectarian tensions, which already exist in Iraq and West Asia, and put a question mark over the effectiveness of international institutions especially the United Nations (U.N.).

G. Parthasarthy, former diplomat, said the hanging was "unfortunate" and would widen the Shia-Sunni divide. The execution in the presence of foreign troops, including from the U.S. would only complicate the matter. "Iraq is headed towards a continuing civil war situation,'' he feared.

Shashank, former Foreign Secretary, and strategic affairs expert K. Subrahmanyam criticised the U.S. for invading Iraq and noted that Saddam Hussein was considered a friend of India. Dr. Subrahmanyam pointed out that Saddam had attacked two sovereign countries, Iran and Kuwait, and was accused of murdering Shias. "He deserved what he got," he added. "This will have a serious impact [on the security situation] as it will not be seen as justice done to a criminal. Also Sunnis will have a feeling that they are not being fairly treated in Iraq. The threat of a flare-up is an immediate cause of concern," said Mr. Sashank.

The former Foreign Secretary also questioned the effectiveness of the U.N. and said it could only watch when the U.S. launched its campaign against Iraq. On U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's repeated criticism of the U.S. invasion, he said: "If a U.N. Secretary-General gives only lectures and behaves like a scholar, how can the U.N. keep peace in the world?"

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