Geneva - Two United Nations agencies said Wednesday they were concerned by the hanging of 12 people in Baghdad, following a year and half of non-application of the death penalty.

The use of the death penalty was "arbitrary" as the courts allowed the use of confessions given under torture, the agencies said.

The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq said the executions which took place Sunday were "a matter of regret."

The UN said it believed 115 other prisoners were at risk of being executed in the near future.

"The Iraqi justice system does not guarantee sufficient fair trial procedures," the two agencies said in a statement.

OHCHR said it "advocates the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances." It recommended "that the Iraqi Government consider formally establishing a moratorium on the death penalty."

The two agencies offered to help Iraqi lawmakers review their legislation so that it would fall in line with international law. (dpa)