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Senegal rejects Hissene Habre's extradition to Belgium | Senegal rejects Hissene Habre's extradition to Belgium |
(40 minutes later) | |
A Senegalese court has rejected a Belgian request to extradite Chad's ex-President Hissene Habre to face trial for alleged atrocities during his rule. | A Senegalese court has rejected a Belgian request to extradite Chad's ex-President Hissene Habre to face trial for alleged atrocities during his rule. |
Mr Habre, 69, has been living in Senegal since he was ousted in 1990. | Mr Habre, 69, has been living in Senegal since he was ousted in 1990. |
He is accused of killing and torturing tens of thousands of opponents between 1982 and 1990, charges he denies. | He is accused of killing and torturing tens of thousands of opponents between 1982 and 1990, charges he denies. |
Senegal's president said this month he expected the extradition would be imminent - and the appeal court's decision was due to a procedural error. | Senegal's president said this month he expected the extradition would be imminent - and the appeal court's decision was due to a procedural error. |
Reed Brody, a lawyer with the US-based group Human Rights Watch which has backed the case against Mr Habre, said the ruling was not definitive. | Reed Brody, a lawyer with the US-based group Human Rights Watch which has backed the case against Mr Habre, said the ruling was not definitive. |
He told the AFP news agency that the court said that "Belgium had not annexed the original arrest warrant and other papers" only photocopied versions. | He told the AFP news agency that the court said that "Belgium had not annexed the original arrest warrant and other papers" only photocopied versions. |
"It leaves the door open to a fresh Belgian extradition request," he said. | "It leaves the door open to a fresh Belgian extradition request," he said. |
After years of wrangling, the African Union recently urged Senegal to either put Mr Habre on trial or send him to a country which would do so. | |
Senegal arrested Mr Habre in 2005, after he was charged by Belgium with crimes against humanity and torture. | Senegal arrested Mr Habre in 2005, after he was charged by Belgium with crimes against humanity and torture. |
Alleged victims filed complaints under Belgium's universal jurisdiction law, which allows Brussels judges to prosecute human rights offences anywhere. | Alleged victims filed complaints under Belgium's universal jurisdiction law, which allows Brussels judges to prosecute human rights offences anywhere. |
In 2008, he was sentenced to death in absentia for planning to overthrow Chad's government. | In 2008, he was sentenced to death in absentia for planning to overthrow Chad's government. |
A 1992 Truth Commission in Chad accused him of being responsible for widespread torture and the death of 40,000 people during his eight-year rule. | A 1992 Truth Commission in Chad accused him of being responsible for widespread torture and the death of 40,000 people during his eight-year rule. |
Last year, Senegal stopped plans to repatriate Mr Habre to Chad following a plea from the UN. | Last year, Senegal stopped plans to repatriate Mr Habre to Chad following a plea from the UN. |
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