The only evidence presented against them, he said, were two confessions extracted under torture.

Convictions were often obtained on the strength of confessions extracted by violence.

The court found that the men were executed on the basis of confessions extracted under torture.

He talked of forced confessions, extracted "by torturing children while their parents are made to watch."

Allegations also surfaced over the use of torture to extract confessions.

"There was intimidation and torture by the security officers in charge at the time to extract confessions from the six people."

Some are reported by human rights groups, opposition figures and Western diplomats to have been tortured to extract confessions.

Most have been sentenced to death on the basis of confessions extracted under duress.

The police, who had been accused of beating the six men to extract confessions, welcomed the verdict.

"You know, the Americans have genius officers who find ways to extract confessions from defendants without beating them," he says.