Libya ex-PM Mahmoudi extradition from Tunisia 'illegal'

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has said that his country’s extradition of Libya’s former Prime Minister al-Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi was “illegal”.

Mr Mahmoudi, 70, had fled to Tunisia during the uprising against Col Muammar Gaddafi last year. Mr Marzouki’s office said in a statement that the decision to extradite Mr Mahmoudi was taken without consultation and without his agreement. Mr Mahmoudi is the first senior Libyan official to be returned for trial. Mr Marzouki had promised earlier this year to hand over Mr Mahmoudi if he were guaranteed a fair trial in Libya, but in May he said he was in principle opposed to the move. Human rights groups had asked Tunisia not to extradite him, saying he could be subject to human rights violations in Libya.