A court in Portugal has agreed to the provisional detention of a Frenchman accused of murdering three people in France last year.

The decision followed a reported refusal by the man, Sid Ahmed Rezala, to accept voluntary extradition.

The judge in the case Alvaro Dias Dos Santos said that the court would now wait for France to formally present an extradition request.

Mr. Rezala was arrested on Tuesday, although police gave no details of the capture. Correspondents say Mr. Rezala may have fled to Portugal to avoid extradition as authorities are reluctant to to extradite anybody who is likely to face the death penalty or life imprisonment if found guilty.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service