Greek court rules in favour of "Fat Tony" extradition

ATHENS, July 26 (Reuters) A Greek court ruled today in favour of an Australian request to extradite its most wanted fugitive, Tony Mokbel.

Lawyers for the convicted mobster said they would appeal against the decision.

The three-judge panel said there were no legal grounds to deny the Australian request. Mokbel can be tried and convicted only on crimes covered by the extradition request, it said.

Mokbel, known as ''Fat Tony'', was sentenced in absentia to 12 years in prison in Australia for trafficking cocaine and police had requested his extradition to complete his sentence.

Mokbel has been held in an Athens jail since his arrest in an Athens suburb. He had been living in Greece for nine months with his girlfriend, daughter and their baby.

Mokbel is also wanted on suspicion of ordering and paying for the murder of rival crime boss Lewis Moran and another man in Australia. He denies any involvement.

REUTERS LPB BST1348