Saudi executes 88th person this year

Saudi Arabia on Tuesday carried out its 88th execution so far this year, surpassing the total for all of 2014.

The interior ministry identified the latest to be put to death as Saudi Awad Al Rowaili and Lafi Al Shammary, who were convicted of smuggling amphetamines.

They were executed in the northern region of Jawf, the ministry said in statements carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

Another Saudi, Mohammed Al Shihri, was separately put to death in the southwestern region of Asir for murder.

The conservative Islamic kingdom executed 87 people in 2014, according to an AFP tally.