France calls on Iraq to spare four of its citizens from the hangman

PARIS, May 28 (Reuters) - Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian on Tuesday said France was intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent four of its citizens being executed in Iraq after they were sentenced to death for belonging to Islamic State.

President Emmanuel Macron's government has said it respects Iraqi sovereignty, but opposes the death penalty.

Iraqi court officials have said the four have been sentenced to death by hanging.

(Editing by Richard Lough; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)

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