RIYADH, Aug 2: Saudi Arabia beheaded on Friday a Saudi murderer and a Pakistani man convicted of smuggling heroin into the kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

It said the Saudi man had been convicted of shooting dead a compatriot during a dispute.

The executions brought to at least 27 the number of people put to death this year in the kingdom.

At least 45 people were executed in Saudi Arabia last year, 75 in 2001 and 121 in 2000.—Reuters