France has rebuked Saudi Arabia for executing 47 people, including a Shi'ite religious leader. Its Foreign Ministry is calling on leaders in the region to prevent sectarian fighting from flaring up.
"France reiterates its constant opposition to the death penalty, in all places and all circumstances," read an official statement.
Saudi Arabia and France are close allies, largely due to their mutual opposition to Iran and similar views on a number of issues in the Middle East.