Ban Ki-Moon, UN secretary-general, has been forced to make an embarrassing reversal over the execution of Saddam Hussein after one of his senior officials called on Iraq not to execute two of Saddam's co-defendants.

Mr Ban had said earlier this week that the decision to execute the former Iraqi dictator was an issue for the Iraqi authorities alone. His comments contrasted with calls against the death penalty by his predecessor and senior UN officials. Human rights groups complained, and the media was critical of his position.