The highest court in the United States Wednesday approved the use of lethal injections in executing prisoners condemned to die, according to dpa. The decision gives the green light for multiple states to lift the delay on executions put in place as the issue moved its way up to the Supreme Court. It was announced just as Pope Benedict XVI, an ardent opponent of the death penalty, arrived at the White House for his historic visit with US President George W Bush. Even before the decision, Benedict was expected to tackle the issue of the death penalty with Bush, who believes lethal punishment is essential to curbing heinous crimes.
