UK rules out extraditing Salem Chalebi
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
London, Aug 9, IRNA -- The British government Monday ruled out extraditing the head of Iraq`s special tribunal, Salem Chalebi, who has been indicted in Iraq in connection with the murder of Haithem Fadhill, a finance ministry official in June. "We don`t have an extradition treaty with Iraq and we are not in a position to offer any help in matters like this," a Foreign Office spokesman in London said. Chalabi, who is on a private visit to London, has denied involvement in the killing. In an interview with the BBC Monday, he said that the charges were "ridiculous." "The charge supposedly is that I made a threat to this ministry of finance official" before he was killed, he said. "I have no recollection of ever meeting this person," he added. Chalabi claimed that there was a "smear campaign" against him. "My life is daily threatened because of what I`m doing," he said, referring to his position as the executive director of the Iraqi special tribunal. He said that three shells had been fired against his house in Baghdad in recent days and that he was in talks with both the president and prime minister of Iraq to negotiate his return. His arrest has been called for by Zuhair al-Maliki, chief investigative judge of the Central Criminal Court of Iraq. The judge also issued a warrant for his uncle, Ahmad Chalabi, who was previously considered to be Washington`s favourite choice as Iraqi president. According to Britain`s PA News, the Foreign Office in London has also said that that there had not been a request from Iraqi authorities for help in pursuing Salem Chalabi. HC/2321/1412
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