An Interior Ministry statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency said a court found the man guilty of smuggling an unspecified quantity of heroin into the conservative kingdom.

The public execution took place in the port city of Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia applies Islamic sharia law by publicly beheading convicted murderers, rapists, drug traffickers and other criminals. A total of 68 people were beheaded in 1996.

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A separate statement carried by staterun television said the Saudi man had been found guilty of shooting another Saudi to death and was beheaded in the southwestern province of Asir.

The three public beheadings by the sword raised to 67 the number of executions this year in the conservative Islamic kingdom.

Saudi Arabia enforces Islamic sharia law by publicly beheading convicted murderers, rapists, drug smugglers and other criminals. It executed a total of 68 people last year.

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) A Saudi convicted of smuggling hashish was beheaded on Monday, the Interior Ministry said.

Hamad bin Mohammad alDossary was executed in the eastern city of alAhsa said the statement, carried by the official Saudi Press Agency. The ministry did not give his age or say when he was convicted of drug trafficking.

AlDossary is the first person to be executed since the annual Muslim pilgrimage, or hajj, ended last week. Beheadings are not carried out during the hajj or the fasting month of Ramadan.

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