Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to be extradited to France

Brussels, April 1: The transfer of Paris attacks suspect Salah Abdeslam to France could take place "very soon", the Belgian broadcaster RTBF reported on Thursday, citing a collaborator of his lawyer Cedric Moisse.

According to the RTBF, the agreement to transfer Salah Abdeslam to France has been notified in an official report. An order for the delivery will be officially released on Friday, but it is already enforceable.

A hearing of the council chamber was held on Thursday afternoon to allow a Belgian federal prosecutor to hear Abdeslam who has been detained in the prison of Bruges, Xinhua reported.

The Brussels Council Chamber has not yet officially released its decision but it is no longer in doubt, according to the Belgian daily Le Soir.

The Belgian federal prosecutor didn't oppose this transfer required by France after the arrest of Abdeslam on March 18.

According to the newspaper Le Soir, in fact, Abdeslam remains suspected of organising the attacks in Brussels.

Even with the suspect imprisoned in France, it is also possible to organise a joint trial by the Belgian and French justices, the report said.

IANS