Australia police drop bid to hold UK bomb suspect

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

SYDNEY (AFP) — Australian police Friday dropped a bid to hold an Indian doctor for a further three days in connection with failed car bombings in Britain.

Police had asked a court for more time to hold Mohammed Haneef, who has been in custody since he was arrested trying to leave the country on July 2, so they could carry out further investigations.

But as pressure mounted to either charge or release Haneef, the Australian Federal Police withdrew a court application to detain him for another 72 hours without questioning.

"The AFP this afternoon withdrew its application for an extension of 'dead time' and the interview has now started," a police spokesman said, declining to say why the bid had been dropped.

Officers now have 12 hours, starting at 3:00...