Italian Foreign Minister Massimo D'Alema said yesterday in Paris that executing Saddam would be "unacceptable."

"Killing Saddam would be a mistake," D'Alema said when attending a press conference together with his French counterpart Philippe Douste-Blazy.

"The application of the death sentence is unacceptable for two reasons. The first reason of principle, because Europe is opposed to the death penalty and fight to have it banned in the world," said D'Alema.

"The second reason, in the difficult and dramatic situation in Iraq, the execution of Saddam Hussein could risk leading the country into a veritable civil war," said the minister.

Douste-Blazy also expressed his worries about the "violent situation of current Iraq" on Sunday. "I hope this decision will not bring about new tensions and that the Iraqi people, whatever community they belong to, should prove their restraint," Douste-Blazy said.

Saddam was found guilty on Sunday by the Iraqi High Tribunal ofcrimes against humanity and sentenced to hang in a case involving the deaths of Shiite men from the town of Dujail.

Saddam has one month to make an appeal. After the appeal period, Talabani would be called on to sign the official sentencing document if the execution order is upheld.