Conversation so far:
What did Ban Ki-moon doing during Ban Ki-moon's term as secretary general?
he refused to condemn the death penalty imposed on Saddam Hussein by the Iraqi High Tribunal.
why did he do that?
remarking, "The issue of capital punishment is for each and every member State to decide".

Question: How did the public respond to that?
Self-contained rewrite: How did the public respond to Ban Ki-moon refusing to condemn the death penalty imposed on Saddam Hussein?