Vietnam will make drug itself to execute prisoners

(AP) Vietnam will begin producing its own chemical for executing prisoners after factories in the European Union stopped shipments because of objections there to the death penalty.

Vietnam stopped using firing squads in 2011 because of concerns it was traumatizing the shooters. Last year, the government said it was unable to execute 532 on death row because it couldn't source the drugs for lethal injections.

The Laborer newspaper on Thursday quoted Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang as saying Vietnam will produce its own drug. The report gave no details.

EU factories are the main supplier of drugs that can be used in executions. Several American states have also said objections from European factories were making it hard to find the chemical.