Foreign Minister Alexander Downer has ruled out asking the United States to extradite suspected Taliban fighter David Hicks for trial in Australia. US forces captured the Adelaide man in Afghanistan 18 months ago and he is being held without charge at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. A high-level Australian delegation will travel to the US next week to discuss Mr Hicks's fate, after the Pentagon agreed to delay a military trial. Human rights groups want Mr Hicks brought back to Australia to face any charges but Mr Downer says the Government has not and will not call for his extradition. "Nor have I in relation to the Australians who have been charged in Vietnam, nor have I in relation to Australians who are charged in other countries," Mr Downer said. "They at least allegedly have committed offences against the jurisdictions of other countries, they have to face trial in those countries not in our jurisdiction."
| He made his bed, let him lie in it... |
|