Brits might not hand Bin Laden over!

Chris Burford cburford at gn.apc.org
Sun Dec 9 13:15:34 PST 2001


CNN quotes the British defence secretary suggesting that they might not hand Bin Laden over to the US.

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."



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