BBC News Online: World: Middle East

Egypt asks Bosnia to extradite suspects

Bosnian officials say Egypt has formally asked Bosnia to extradite nine suspected members of banned Islamic groups which Egypt says are a threat to its security.

However, the officials said the nine Egyptians were no longer in the country.

Correspondents say Bosnia has already extradited three Egyptians to try to shed its reputation for harbouring Islamic extremists.

It has also deported six Arabs with suspected links to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida network. They are being held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with suspected al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters captured in Afghanistan.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service