Australian Federal Police receiving full cooperation: Oz Min

New Delhi, July 11 (UNI) Visiting Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson today said his country's Federal Police is receiving full cooperation from the Indian authorities relating to Bangalore-based Mohammed Haneef who had been arrested in Brisbane in connection with the recent foiled bombing in Britain.

''The Australian Federal Police is receiving full cooperation and I believe the Indian police is working very hard on the case,'' he told newspersons here.

''We are very mindful and respectful of Indian procedures and laws,'' he said declining to comment further to a query on whether ''paperwork'' in India was delaying investigations in the case.

When asked how long Haneef could be kept under custody without being charged, he said there was no intention on the part of the Australian Federal Police to extend his custody more than what was required.

An inquiry was on and the court would have to be satisfied before charges could be formally brought up, he said and added under the Australian law, a person was presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

Police from many countries, including India and the UK, were working together, the only concern was 'terrorism' and there was no political, cultural or religious issue involved, Mr Nelson said.

The visiting minister also assured the media that the Australian immigration policy would not change as a result of this (Haneef) incident.

Doctors could be allowed entry on the basis of their professional qualifications and not on the basis of their religion, he said.

He also mentioned the huge contribution of Indian doctors in building Australia's world class health care system.

UNI