For the more hard-line Sunni Arabs, the execution simply confirmed their view that joining the Shiite government could never work.

Some fear that a Shiite government that imposed its will on the Sunni minority would accelerate the violence in central Iraq.

"The Kurds and the Sunni are afraid of a Shiite government," he added.

At the time, Saudi officials were also concerned about the Islamic revolution in Iran, which brought a Shiite government to power.

No one in Washington could have wanted a fundamentalist Shiite government, subservient to Teheran, ruling even part of Iraq.

However, nothing can be done about this as Iraq's Shiite government were democratically elected.

American officials say that the main fear concerning a Shiite government in Iraq is more external than internal.

Those nations have been leery about the current Shiite government, whose leaders have strong links with Iran.

Where it once had a hostile Saddam Hussein on its western border, it now has a friendly Shiite fundamentalist government.

While fundamentalists would presumably be favored, a more moderate Iraqi Shiite government might also be acceptable in Teheran.