Bonn - Germany yesterday condemned the execution in Arizona of a German-born convicted murderer as barbaric and criticised the US for ignoring international treaties.
The Justice Minister, Ms Herta Daubler-Gmelin, said she believed the execution of convicts like Walter LaGrand, who was put to death on Wednesday night, was used in the US to help governors and state prosecutors win re-election.
"It is barbaric and unworthy of a state based on the rule of law."
LaGrand (37) was put to death in the state's gas chamber for killing a bank manager. The execution followed a day of frantic legal appeals and protests from the German government and the International Court of Justice.
LaGrand and his brother, Karl (36), were convicted of the 1982 stabbing to death of the bank manager in a botched robbery. They also stabbed a bank clerk six times, but she survived. Karl LaGrand was put to death by lethal injection on February 24th.