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Egypt not to hand over suspect
16/07/2005 20:32 - (SA)
Egypt - Egypt says it is not prepared to hand over a biochemist detained in connection with the London bombings, Egyptian security officials said on Saturday, as British investigators arrived here to take part in questioning him.
Magdy Mahmoud Mustafa el-Nashar, 33, was arrested on Thursday in Cairo after British officials supplied his name to Egyptian authorities over the weekend.
British investigators in the northern town of Leeds reportedly found traces of explosives in the bathtub in his apartment. Security officials initially said he'd been arrested four or five days ago and gave no reason for the discrepancy.
An Egyptian security official, speaking on condition of anonymity because a final decision has not yet been made, said interrogating el-Nashar was a matter of "sovereignty" and would be carried out on Egyptian soil.
The investigation was ongoing, the official said, adding as yet there wasn't enough evidence to prove if el-Nashar was involved in the attacks or not.
Co-operating closely
Egypt and Britain do not have an extradition treaty, but Egyptian officials have said they are co-operating closely with British and American authorities on terrorism issues, and in el-Nashar's case in particular.
El-Nashar had been teaching at Leeds University and returned to Egypt a week before the bombings shook London's transport system on July 7.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said on Friday that he wanted el-Nashar brought to Britain.
El-Nashar has denied involvement in the attacks and said he planned to return to Leeds after a vacation in Egypt, the Interior Ministry said on Friday.
In remarks published on Saturday Egypt's Interior Minister Habib el-Adly said el-Nashar had no connection with al-Qaeda, which British authorities believe is behind the attacks. Making such an association, el-Adly said, was a "hasty conclusion".
Another security official, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that British investigators had arrived in Cairo to question el-Nashar. It was not clear if they have already started interrogating him.
A spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police refused to confirm the reports, saying the force never commented on officers' travel plans for security reasons.
"We're monitoring developments. If officers needed to be involved in extradition or other processes, then they would be involved." He wouldn't elaborate.
- AP
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