LISBON - The Portugal branch of human rights organization Amnesty International (AI) held a demonstration on Sunday to protest against the death sentence passed on former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Portugal activist Clandia Pedra told media on Sunday that this sentence "does not help the victims and Saddam should have another trial," although the organization had long protested the atrocities committed by Saddam during his leadership.

Pedra said that Saddam should be tried again, under more just terms. She added that he had yet to be tried for his many crimes committed against thousands of Kurds.

"A country that wishes to start again with greater democracy is about to send the worst possible message with this sentence," she said.

Portugal's president and prime minister, who are currently in Uruguay's capital Montevideo for the 16th Ibero-American summit, told media that they will not comment until Monday.

Iraq's High Tribunal gave Saddam the death sentence on Sunday, on charges related to the massacre of 148 Shi'ite men in Dujail after an assassination attempt against Saddam in 1982. After Iraq's courts hand down such a sentence, it is automatically passed to the appeals court.