Saudi Beheads National for Murder

Saudi Arabia beheaded on Tuesday one of its nationals convicted of murdering a fellow Saudi in the western Mecca region, the Interior Ministry said.

Nemr al-Subaie had shot dead Hunaitem al-Subaie following a dispute between them, the Ministry said in a statement carried by SPA state news agency.

His execution brings to 17 the number of people beheaded in Saudi Arabia so far this year.

In 2012, the kingdom executed 76 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch put the number at 69.

Rape, murder, apostasy, armed robbery and drug trafficking are all punishable by death under Saudi Arabia's strict version of sharia, or Islamic law.