Tunisia: Baghdadi Mahmoudi extradited to Libya
The Head of the Libyan government until the last days of the regime of Muammar Gaddafi, Baghdadi Mahmoudi, was extradited to Libya on Sunday morning.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisia-Baghdad...
Mahmoudi, 67, was arrested in Tunisia on 21 September, 2011 near the Algerian border and sentenced to six months in prison for "illegal entry" into the country , before being acquitted.
Accused in his country of having ordered the rape of women in the region of Zouara, he was the subject of an arrest warrant from the Libyan authorities.
A government source reported by AP said, on condition of anonymity, that Mahmoudi had left at 10:20 local time (9:20 GMT) from the military airport of El Aouina, near Tunis, on board a special plane from Libya. He was accompanied by the current Chief of Staff of the Libyan army, Youssef Mangouch.
An official with the Department of Justice, Mustapha Yahyaoui, said the extradition decision was taken by Prime Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali "pursuant to a judicial decision." He said it "is consistent with bilateral Tunisian-Libyan and North African conventions on the matter."
Despite an "agreement in principle" for the extradition of Mahmoudi, there were opposing differences of opinion between the presidency and the government, including the timing and circumstances of his extradition.
President Marzouki had demanded guarantees for the respect of the physical integrity of Mahmoudi and a fair trial. A mission had recently visited Tunisia to Libya to make sure. Its conclusions, however, have not been made public, emphasizes AP
"The presidency of the Republic expresses its rejection of the decision of the head of government to extradite M. Mahmudi and considers this decision is illegal, all the more so because it has been done unilaterally and without consulting the president of the republic," a statement said.
"The extradition decision, signed by the head of the Tunisian government, constitutes a clear violation of our country's international commitments and those towards the UN," the statement added.
"The president's office holds the head of government responsible for anything that happens after the extradition," and for anything that subsequently befalls Mahmudi.
.
Accused in his country of having ordered the rape of women in the region of Zouara, he was the subject of an arrest warrant from the Libyan authorities.
A government source reported by AP said, on condition of anonymity, that Mahmoudi had left at 10:20 local time (9:20 GMT) from the military airport of El Aouina, near Tunis, on board a special plane from Libya. He was accompanied by the current Chief of Staff of the Libyan army, Youssef Mangouch.
An official with the Department of Justice, Mustapha Yahyaoui, said the extradition decision was taken by Prime Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali "pursuant to a judicial decision." He said it "is consistent with bilateral Tunisian-Libyan and North African conventions on the matter."
Despite an "agreement in principle" for the extradition of Mahmoudi, there were opposing differences of opinion between the presidency and the government, including the timing and circumstances of his extradition.
President Marzouki had demanded guarantees for the respect of the physical integrity of Mahmoudi and a fair trial. A mission had recently visited Tunisia to Libya to make sure. Its conclusions, however, have not been made public, emphasizes AP
"The presidency of the Republic expresses its rejection of the decision of the head of government to extradite M. Mahmudi and considers this decision is illegal, all the more so because it has been done unilaterally and without consulting the president of the republic," a statement said.
"The extradition decision, signed by the head of the Tunisian government, constitutes a clear violation of our country's international commitments and those towards the UN," the statement added.
"The president's office holds the head of government responsible for anything that happens after the extradition," and for anything that subsequently befalls Mahmudi.
.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Tunisia-Baghdad...