Mr Bazoft was working for The Observer

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Britain has strongly condemned the Iraqi authorities over the execution of The Observer journalist Farzad Bazoft in Baghdad.

Mr Bazoft - who came to live in Britain from Iran in the 1980s - was convicted by the Iraqis of spying four days ago. He was hanged at dawn after a last minute appeal forclemencyfrom the British prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, failed.

In the Commons this afternoon, the foreign secretary, Douglas Hurd, said Britain's ambassador to Iraq was being recalled and all visits to the country have been suspended.

But Mr Hurd stopped short of cutting off diplomatic relations with Iraq. He said it was important to keep dialogue alive with the Iraqis for the sake of the 2,000 Britons living in Iraq, including Mr Bazoft's alleged accomplice, British nurse Daphne Parish.

Mr Bazoft and Mrs Parish were arrested last September after visiting a top secret military installation south of Baghdad.

The Observer journalist was investigating reports of an explosion at the plant, which had reportedly left hundreds dead. He asked Mrs Parish to give him a lift in her car.

He was convicted of spying and sentenced to death by a revolutionary court. Mrs Parish was jailed for 15 years.

The British Consul General in Baghdad, Robin Kealy, was Mr Bazoft's last visitor before his execution.

He said: "He was looking hollow-eyed and subdued, not surprisingly. He passed on a last written message and a number of oral messages to friends and colleagues... He repeated that he had been a journalist going after a scoop."

The Iraqi ambassador in France said British appeals for clemency fell on deaf ears because officials used "threatening terms and blackmail".

Prayers for Mr Bazoft were said today at the offices of The Observer in London. Later staff gathered outside the Iraqi embassy to register their silent protest.

The daughter of Mrs Parish, Michelle de Vries, has supported the government's decision to keep diplomatic channels open. She hopes to be able to secure the early release of her mother.

She said: "It is far too early to know what implications today's events will have on my mother. All I can do is hope and pray she receives the clemency not afforded to poor Mr Bazoft."

Architect John Poulson said he was innocent and never tried to bribe anyone

Poulson, who was found guilty of conspiracy to make or receive corrupt gifts, admitted that cash or presents worth ?0,000 had changed hands, but had denied corruption.

Leeds Crown Court was told that the 63-year-old gave away more than ?00,000 in suits, holidays and flowers to win contracts.

After Poulson's business collapsed in 1972, an investigation revealed it had been making payments to several MPs, police officers, health authorities and civil servants.

The Yorkshire architect was found guilty by the jury of 10 men and two women after four hours of deliberations following the trial.

Mr Justice Waller told Leeds Crown Court there was a web of corruption that encompassed 23 local authorities and 300 individuals.

Poulson continued to protest his innocence and in a statement issued through his solicitor said: "I may have been a fool but I will always maintain that I was innocent of corruption. I have never tried to bribe anybody."

William George Pottinger, 57, a senior Scottish civil servant, was also jailed for five years for corruption.

It was revealed at Leeds Crown Court that Poulson admitted that some of his huge debt arose from income tax frauds and the Inland Revenue had a claim of ?78,000 against him.

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Waller told Poulson and Pottinger that "the magnitude and evil nature" of what they had both done was such that he would not take into account their age or health.

Mr Justice Waller said: "To offer corrupt gifts strikes at the very foundation of our system. To accept them is a betrayal of trust."

Poulson, of Pontefract, broke down and wept when he heard his defence counsel speak of the courage of his wife and two daughters during the trial.

Donald Herrod, QC, had described his client as "hypocritical, self-righteous and perhaps something of a megalomaniac".

However, the defence team claimed that the prosecution had failed to prove corruption although it had proved greed.

During the trial, Poulson said: "I have squandered money on people I thought were my friends. They conned me. I did not realise what an old twit I had been until I heard some of the evidence here."

Poulson and Pottinger were taken to Armley Prison in Leeds to begin their sentences. They are both considering appeals.

clemency: A disposition to show mercy, especially toward an offender or enemy（溫和；仁慈）