RIYADH, May 1: Saudi authorities here on Tuesday beheaded two convicts: a Pakistani man convicted of drug smuggling, and a local man who fatally shot a countryman following an argument, the Interior Ministry said.

The Pakistani, identified as Bakht Iqbal Musaferkhan, was convicted of trying to smuggle heroin into the kingdom and was executed in the capital, Riyadh, the official Saudi Press Agency reported, citing an Interior Ministry statement.

The Saudi man, Abdullah bin Salih al-Harbi, was convicted of shooting dead Moutaq bin Atiq al-Hureibi following a quarrel. He was executed in the holy city of Madina, the statement said.

Saudi Arabia follows Islamic Sharia under which people convicted of murder, drug trafficking, rape and armed robbery can be executed.

The executions are performed with a sword and in public, as a deterrent.—AP