‘Haneef won’t be extradited’

Australia will not extradite Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef to Britain while he faces charges in Australia.

Australia will not extradite Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef to Britain while he faces charges in Australia, attorney general Philip Ruddock said on Sunday.

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"In relation to extradition, Australia would not normally surrender a person for extradition where there were outstanding matters that had to be dealt with here," Ruddock told a TV channel.

After 12 days in detention without charges, Haneef, 27, was charged on Saturday with providing support to a terrorist organisation by giving his mobile phone SIM card to British suspects Sabeel and Kafeel Ahmed.

He faces a maximum 15 years in prison if convicted. He was ordered to remain in custody in Brisbane until at least Monday, while a magistrate decides whether to release him on bail.

Australian Prime Minister John Howard and senior ministers rallied to defend their country's tough anti-terrorism stance on Sunday. Howard said the terrorism laws, introduced in 2004, were necessary "to the very last letter".