Execution factfile

1999: 98 executions 1951: 105 executions 95 people released from death row since 1973 66% of Americans support the death penalty

Twice in the last two months Scott had been given last-minute reprieves. On one occasions the needles to carry lethal chemicals into his body had already been inserted into his skin.

He had spent 17 years on Death Row after being found guilty of the murder of a Cleveland food shop owner in 1983.

Cruel and unusual

Scott was only the second person to be executed in Ohio since it reinstated the death penalty in 1981.

Death penalty supporters gathered outside the prison

His lawyers argued that execution constituted cruel and unusual punishment, as he had become severely mentally ill while on Death Row.

He showed symptoms of schizophrenia, and set his cell on fire and tried to harm himself.

But Ohio's Attorney General, Betty Montgomery, said the only problem with the judicial process had been the time it had taken.

"At least 56 judges and countless appeals have not found any reason to reverse this judgement... the judicial process has worked, however, slowly," Ms Montgomery said.

The European Union urged Ohio's governor, Bob Taft, not to sign the execution order, saying in a letter sent on behalf of human rights group Amnesty International that the EU "opposes the death penalty in all cases and promotes universal abolition".

Execution rate rising

There has been growing concern in the US about the rise in the number of executions, even though some two thirds of the country still supports the death penalty.

More people - 97 in total - were put to death in the US in 1999 than in any year since 1951. The number this year could be higher still as 46 people were executed during the first four months of 2001 alone.

A recent study of the death penalty in the US found that two-thirds of all capital convictions are overturned on appeal.

Of the cases where courts ordered a new trial, 7% were acquitted, while 75% were convicted but sentenced to lesser punishment.

Several states are also currently reviewing their policies regarding the execution of criminals with low IQs, particularly if this is related to their crimes.

Fourteen states prohibit the execution of mentally retarded prisoners and eight others are considering a ban.