What wimps this Brits are. Just because they never got round to killing Gerry Adams!
Chris Burford
>LONDON, England -- Britain would hand over terror suspect Osama bin Laden
>for trial in the United States only if assurances were given that he would
>not face the death penalty, UK Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon says.
>
>Hoon said he believes the U.S. is the correct venue for any trial of the
>prime suspect in the September 11 bombings, if he is captured by British
>troops.
>
>But he said that extradition to the U.S. -- which has the death penalty in
>some states -- would require "certain undertakings" from the American
>authorities.
>
>Britain does not extradite suspects to countries with the death penalty
>unless assurances are secured that they will not face execution.
>
>This is a provision in the European Convention on Human Rights, to which
>Britain is a signatory.
>
>Asked what would happen to bin Laden if he fell into the hands of UK
>troops, Hoon told BBC Television's "Breakfast with Frost" programme on
>Sunday: "I believe that it would be very important to respect the
>international legislation relevant to those circumstances.
>
>"That is that the country that has the main call on him as far as bringing
>him to justice is concerned -- which clearly is the United States -- we
>should hand him over fairly promptly to face justice in the United States.
>
>"We do extradite people to countries with the death penalty, obviously
>subject to certain undertakings.
>
>"I see no reason in principle why that shouldn't happen. I would mean, of
>course, that certain undertakings would have to be given about any penalty
>he might face."
>
>Asked whether this meant that the US authorities would have to offer
>assurances that bin Laden would not face execution, Hoon said: "That is
>the position."