Canada Ralliers Oppose $15Bln Saudi Arabia Arms Deal amid Riyadh Execution

Local Editor

Hundreds of protesters in the Canadian capital of Ottawa demanded the cancellation of an arms deal with Riyadh, worth some $15 billion, after Saudi Arabia executed dozens of prisoners, local media reported.

On Saturday, Saudi Arabia executed 47 people convicted of terrorism, including prominent Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr.

About 500 protesters from Canada's largest cities, gathered in front of the country's parliament, not far from the Saudi embassy, calling for the condemnation of Riyadh's executions and cancellation of the contract on arms supplies to Saudi Arabia, Ottawa Citizen newspaper reported on Wednesday.

The deal between Canada and Saudi Arabia on supplies of Light Armored Vehicles was prepared and signed in 2013-2014 fiscal year. It is worth $15 billion and is said to be the largest arms contract in Canadian history.

Despite the fact that the executions in Saudi Arabia were condemned by Canada on Sunday, the country's government confirmed its intention to fulfill the contracts signed in the past.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team