Australian Attorney General justifies extended detention of Indian doc

Australias Attorney General Philip Ruddock has defended the extended detention of terror suspect and Indian-born doctor Mohamed Haneef , saying civil liberty activists would hang the Federal Government out to dry if he was released and something terrible happened.

Sydney, July 11 : Australia's Attorney General Philip Ruddock has defended the extended detention of terror suspect and Indian-born doctor Mohamed Haneef , saying civil liberty activists would hang the Federal Government out to dry if he was released and "something terrible" happened.

Haneef was arrested in connection with the bungled terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow as he tried to leave Australia with a one-way ticket to Malaysia on July 2.

Dr Haneef has been held without charge under federal counter-terrorism laws for questioning by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) since his arrest.

Civil libertarians have criticised the AFP for requesting multiple extensions to interrogate Dr Haneef, and the time needed to review computer information seized during their investigation.

News.com.au and AAP quoted Ruddock as saying today that he was satisfied with the ongoing investigation and judicial processes.

"You would be asking me different types of questions if we found out later that there were avenues of inquiry that could have been pursued ... and some terrible event happened in Australia," Ruddock said.

Earlier this week, a Brisbane magistrate allowed police to hold Dr Haneef for another 48 hours, although police had requested a total of five days.

Ruddock said he no problem with the magistrate's decision to grant the AFP a limited number of days to continue their investigation.

Police are today seeking a third extension of time to allow more questioning of Dr Haneef.

Meanwhile, an AFP officer in India investigating links between Dr Haneef and the British bomb plots has reported back to senior intelligence officials

The officer has met Indian intelligence officials and was coordinating with the Karnataka State Police in connection with the investigation.

Australian officials have declined to identify the officer, but said he was "part of the investigations'' and was liaising with local authorities.

ANI