BRUSSELS: The European Union condemned Tuesday China's decision to execute a reportedly mentally ill British man, and expressed regret that Beijing had ignored calls for his sentence to be commuted.

"The European Union condemns in the strongest terms the execution of Akmal Shaikh," said a statement issued by Sweden, which holds the EU's rotating presidency until the end of the year.

"It deeply regrets the fact that China has not heeded the repeated calls by the European Union and one of its member states for the death sentence passed against Mr Shaikh to be commuted."

The EU also affirmed its longstanding opposition to the death penalty.

Shaikh, a 53-year-old father of three, was put to death in China after being convicted of drug smuggling.

Supporters insist he suffered from bipolar disorder and said the judge should have taken this into account.