Amnesty International: 4,000 people were executed worldwide in 2004

The number of death sentences imposed by governments reached its greatest height in 10 years. "In 2004, 97 per cent of all known executions took place in China, Iran, Vietnam and the U.S.A.," Amnesty said.

Only recently did the U.S. join the rest of the civilized world by stopping the execution of children and the mentally retarded.