Marzouki: no al-Mahmoudi extradition now

Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki has confirmed that he will not sign a decree to extradite Baghdadi al-Mahmoudi, the last prime minister under ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime, before an elected government is formed in Libya. In an interview with "Hannibal TV", Marzouki said: " I'm a man of human rights and can't extradite someone who may face torture or death." He said Libya is passing through a transitional state and when it is governed by a legitimate democratic government which provides us with guarantees, Baghdadi Mahmoudi will be extradited. Tunisia's president, has denied the presence of any deal with the Libyan government in return for extraditing Mahmoudi, saying Tunisia doesn't have any interests regarding such issues, but it is simply a matter of honour and he is responsible for defending this honour. "I can't contribute to exposing someone to torture or death," Marzouki added. The Tunisian government had announced last May 22,  its intention to hand over Baghdadi Mahmoudi to Tripoli within days or weeks. Meanwhile, Adnen Manssar, the spokesperson for the Marzouki, said Tunisia will not extradite Mahmoudi to Libya without having guarantees of a fair trial. Libya directed two official requests to Tunisia regarding the issue of Baghdadi Mahmoudi extradition to Libya on charges of financial corruption during Gaddafi's regime, as well as inciting calls for the rape of Libyan women during the February 17 revolution.