Ohio governor delays executions

Lawrence Reynolds had been scheduled to be executed on Thursday

Two more executions have been delayed in the US state of Ohio, three weeks after an attempt to put another man to death by lethal injection failed.

On 15 September, the execution of Romell Broom was abandoned after Ohio officials failed to find a vein.

Judges halted Thursday's execution in the state of Lawrence Reynolds, 43.

The state governor then delayed next month's execution of Darryl Durr, until a judge hears arguments over problems with the injection process.

The execution of Broom - convicted of rape and murder - is also on hold ahead of a federal court hearing on 30 November.

His lawyers argue that an unprecedented second execution attempt on Broom would violate a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.

Gov Ted Strickland ordered all three executions to be halted.

He said the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction needed more time to finish updating its protocols for dealing with long delays in finding suitable veins on inmates, Associated Press news agency reported.

Earlier on Monday, Court of Appeals judges had delayed Reynolds' execution, due to problems with Broom's failed execution.

The US Supreme Court was also considering whether to allow Reynolds' execution to proceed.