Fifth person executed on Saudi king's orders

There has been littel sign of new Saudi king Salman easing the country's death penalty practice after a convicted murderer was beheaded in the kingdom on Sunday.

Five people have been executed since King Salman ascended to the throne over a week ago.

The execution comes as a number of pardons were also issued on the orders of the king.

Abdelrahman al-Jahni, a Saudi, was convicted of shooting another man dead during a dispute, the interior ministry said in a statement carried by the official Saudi Press Agency.

The execution was carried out in the city of Medina.

According to AFP, Jahni is one of 17 people executed in Saudi Arabia this year.

The interior ministry says the death penalty in such cases reflects the government's commitment to "maintaining security, realising justice".

But the kingdom has faced criticism from human rights groups for the fact that executions are carried out by a sword and in public. Saudi Arabia has also been attacked for executing criminals for non-fatal crimes such as sorcery.

Last year, under King Abdullah, there were 87 recorded executions making the country one of the most prolific executioners of the death penalty in the world.