Lisbon has officially told New Delhi that it would...

Lisbon has officially told New Delhi that it would not interfere in the Portuguese judicial process and India should initiate extradition proceedings against fugitive Mumbai blasts accused Abu Salem instead of trying for the more speedy process of deportation. Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources said that in a letter to External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha earlier in the week, Portuguese foreign minister Jaime Gama reiterated that Portuguese law would take its own course as Salem was an offender in that country. Under the circumstance, it would not be possible for Lisbon to deport Salem through executive intervention but New Delhi was welcome to initiate extradition proceedings against him.