Pakistani escape police 'sacked'

Rashid Rauf escaped from police custody while visiting a mosque

Nine Pakistani policemen have been dismissed following the escape of a British suspect, Pakistan's official news agency says.

Rashid Rauf escaped from the custody of two policemen in December as they were returning him from court to jail.

Terror charges against him in Pakistan were dropped last month. The UK wants him extradited in connection with another case, the death of his uncle.

The dismissals follow an internal police inquiry into Mr Rauf's escape.

It is understood that British police also want to question Mr Rauf - from Birmingham in the UK - in connection with an alleged plot to blow up transatlantic jets from the UK.

'Gross negligence'

The official Associated Press of Pakistan quotes police sources as saying that the inquiry showed that Mr Rauf managed to escape because of gross negligence and flouting of security procedures by police officials.

He escaped after his guards allowed him to visit an Islamabad mosque on his way back to jail from a court hearing.

Pakistani authorities arrested Mr Rauf in the eastern city of Bahawalpur in August 2006, and claimed he was the ringleader of an al-Qaeda cell.

They said they recovered 29 cylinders of hydrogen peroxide - used in explosive devices - forged identity cards and immigration stamps when they arrested him.

But the charges were subsequently dropped.