ROME (AP) — An Italian anti-death penalty group says Iraq is now among the world's top executioners for the first time since the 2003 fall of Saddam Hussein after the number of executions in the country rose dramatically last year.

A report released Saturday by Hands Off Cain says China and Iran are still the world's top two executioners. The report covers 2009 and the first six months of this year.

Iraq put at least 77 people to death in 2009, compared with fewer than 35 in each of the two previous years.

China alone accounts for some 5,000 executions last year, representing 90 percent of all capital punishments worldwide. The figure is virtually unchanged from the previous report.

Iran carried out 402 executions.