Malta refuses extradition

Press, 5 December 1985, Page 10

Malta refuses extradition

NZPA-Reuter Valletta Malta will not extradite the surviving hijacker of an Egyptian airliner to Cairo, said the Maltese Prime Minister, Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, and he has no evidence of Libyan involvement in the November 23 hijack.

In an interview with Reuter, Mifsud Bonnici also defended his decision not to allow American specialists to take part in a bid to free

the hostages. Fifty-seven people died when Egyptian commandos stormed the plane at Malta’s Luqa Airport under cover of darkness on November 24. Two others had been shot dead by the hijackers. Three American military advisers accompanied the Egyptian troops who flew to Malta after the Egypt Air Boeing 737 was diverted there while on a flight from

Athens to Cairo with 98 people on board. American and Maltese officials say the advisers did not take part in the abortive rescue bid. Mr Mifsud said the United States had advised Malta that Egypt was ready to send troops and had also offered American assistance in any rescue attempt. However, Malta had seen no reason to involve the United States, although

there were American hostages, he said. In view of the fact that the Egyptians had American experts with them “we thought we should not, for a number of reasons, accept the request of the Americans.” Mr Mifsud said that Malta had received no proof of Libyan involvement from Cairo or any other Government. Egypt has said it will publish evidence of Libyan complicity.