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Senegal Postpones Extradition Ruling on Ex-Chad Dictator


A court in Senegal has postponed a ruling on a Belgian request to extradite Chad's ex-dictator Hissene Habre, wanted for committing alleged war crimes.

A lawyer for Mr. Habre told reporters the judge decided to delay the ruling until Friday.

The lawyer refused to reveal the reasons behind the decision. The Dakar court was expected to make its ruling Tuesday.

Belgium issued an international arrest warrant for Mr. Habre, accusing his regime of committing mass killings and torture during his eight years in office, which ended in 1990.

His lawyers argue Mr. Habre had no knowledge that his police committed war crimes.

Belgium is trying him under its universal jurisdiction laws, which allow for prosecution of suspected war crimes regardless of where they were committed.

Mr. Habre was arrested earlier this month in Senegal, where he has lived in exile for 15 years.

Some information for this story provided by AFP and AP.

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