Detained Indian doc wanted to leave Australia in a hurry:Attorney General

Australias Attorney General Phillip Ruddock today said that the Indian doctor detained by Australian Police in connection with the foiled June 30 UK bombing attempts appeared to be in a hurry to leave the country.

Sydney, July 9 : Australia's Attorney General Phillip Ruddock today said that the Indian doctor detained by Australian Police in connection with the foiled June 30 UK bombing attempts appeared to be in a hurry to leave the country.

Ruddock was quoted by The Daily Telegraph as telling Southern Cross Broadcasting that 27-year-old Mohammed Haneef had a one-way ticket to fly to India just days after the foiled terrorist attacks in London and Glasgow.

"The appearance as I am told was that he had left rather hurriedly. His wife says it's because she gave birth to a child two weeks ago. That may be well the reason but certainly the appearance was that his intention (was) to leave with speed," Ruddock was quoted, as saying.

Haneef is being held without charge for a week under federal counter-terrorism powers since his arrest at Brisbane International Airport last week.

According to Ruddock, Dr. Haneef's explanations to the investigators are reasonable, "but they may also be a cover for something else."

A holiday happy snap of Dr Haneef and his wife Firdous Arshiyu at Sydney's Darling Harbour Aquarium has emerged, confirming that the doctor spent time in Sydney. The photo is a souvenir from one of a few trips they are understood to have made to New South Wales.

Meanwhile, Dr. Haneef's lawyer today claimed that his client was not being treated fairly while in custody.

Dr Haneef has been in custody in Brisbane since last Monday as authorities investigated whether he had any links to the UK plots, and to an underground network of radical Islamist doctors. He is believed to be the cousin of brothers Sabeel and Kafeel Ahmed, two of the key suspects arrested in Britain over the plot.

Five other overseas-born doctors - including one from Sydney - were quizzed by the Australian Federal Police on Friday and released on the grounds they would be available for further questioning.

A holding deadline given under counter-terrorism laws expires at 7 p.m. tonight. Investigators then having 12 hours of interview time with Dr Haneef.

The latest Australian moves came as reports emerged that police in Bangalore were hunting for 12 more people who may be linked to the conspiracy. Three Indians arrested in connection with the failed car bombings, hailed from Bangalore.

ANI