HUMAN rights campaigners lambasted Philip Hammond yesterday after he refused condemn the Saudi Arabian execution of 47 people, including political protesters.

The Tory Foreign Secretary dismissed the victims as “convicted terrorists” and argued that diplomatic intervention could only be effective in individual cases.

Legal action charity Reprieve death penalty team leader Maya Foa welcomed his intervention on behalf of young protester Ali al-Nimr and other youths but said Mr Hammond was “alarmingly misinformed” about the mass execution.