U.S. use of execution criticised

BRUSSELS, Belgium -- U.S. use of execution has been criticised as ineffective and morally wrong at a conference of European leaders.

Walter Schwimmer, secretary-general of the Council of Europe, attacked the U.S. policy saying, "Would anyone really believe the death penalty is a tool to fight crime? If that would be true, the United States would be a country without crime and without violence."

The three-day conference in Strasbourg, France, comes after the U.S. federal executions of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh and convicted murderer and drug trafficker Juan Raul Garza.

Criticism was also directed towards China for its anti-crime campaign Hard Strike, which has already sent hundreds to be executed.

"The figures emanating from China about its use of the death penalty under the 'strike hard' policy are so horrifying as to be almost unbelievable," said Chris Patten, the European Union's top foreign policy official.

The resumed practice of stoning women in Iran was also raised with Patten saying he has addressed the issue with Iranian officials.

The conference was organised by the 43-member Council of Europe, which has obtained a total ban on executions in its member states.