[JURIST] The Iraqi government Sunday defended its decision to reinstate the death penalty, saying that without sufficient punishment there will be no security in the country. The statements come a day after Ashraf Qazi, special representative of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, asked Iraq to reconsider [JURIST report] executing three convicted felons. Last week, Iraqi vice president Adel Abdel Mehdi signed a decree authorizing the hanging of three men [JURIST report] who received death sentences for kidnapping policemen and raping Iraqi women. The executions will likely happen within the next few days. AFP has more.