Brussels- The European Union on Friday said that it was "deeply concerned" by the execution in Japan of three death-row inmates and asked Tokyo to bring in a moratorium on further hangings.

"The European Union is deeply concerned at the Japanese authorities' announcement that three people under sentence of death - Mr Yoshiyuki Mantani, aged 68, Mr Mineteru Yamamoto, aged 68, Mr Isamu Hirano, aged 61 - have been hanged," a statement on behalf of the EU from the French government said.

"The acceleration of executions in Japan confirms a particularly disturbing trend at a time when there are more than 100 prisoners waiting on death row ... (The EU) asks Japan to re-introduce the moratorium on executions which was applied before 25 December 2006 and to contemplate abolishing the death penalty," it said.

On Thursday the Japanese authorities announced the execution of the three men, all of whom had been found guilty of murder.

The EU firmly opposes the death penalty and regularly condemns the use of the penalty in other parts of the world. The French government currently holds the bloc's rotating six-month presidency. (dpa)