New Delhi: Congress today hoped that the 'unfortunate' execution of ousted Iraqi president Saddam Hussein could not stand in the way of the process of restoring normalcy and reconciliation in the West Asian country.

"Earlier we have expressed our concerns and appealed not to execute the death sentence. Unfortunately, this has not happened. We hope this unfortunate event will not stand in the way of process of restoring normalcy and reconciliation in Iraq," AICC General Secretary and party's media department chief Janardhan Dwivedi said in a statement.