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Yair Klein. (Courtesy of Hanan Azran) Last update - 15:09 03/06/2008 EU court halts extradition to Bogota of Israeli who trained paramilitaries By Reuters Tags: EU, Russia, Israel, Colombia The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Russia to halt the extradition of a former Israeli army officer wanted in Colombia for training paramilitaries, his Russian lawyer said on Tuesday. Yara Gal Klein, also known as Yair, was convicted in absentia by a Colombian court of training illegal paramilitary groups. He was to be extradited to the South American country to serve his sentence after he was detained in Russia last year. His legal team appealed against the extradition in the Strasbourg-based European Court, arguing his life woult be at risk if he were sent to a Colombian prison. Advertisement "The Strasbourg court issued a decision forbidding the extraditionpending further consideration of the case," Klein's lawyer, Dmitry Yampolsky, told Reuters. "His extradition to Colombia would be illegal. His human rights will be violated there .. (because of) the conditions in Colombian prisons and the personal attitude tohim in Colombia," Yampolsky said. The lawyer said officials in Colombia had made statements about Klein which suggested he would not be treated fairly. Klein has denied committing any crime and said the case against him was political. He said the Colombian military had known about his paramilitary training activities. Russia's Supreme Court last month approved his extradition to Colombia. The government there has disarmed the paramilitary militias which, over the past two decades, contributed to a wave of violence in the Andean country. Colombia's paramilitary movement began in the 1980s when wealthy landowners banded together for protection against kidnapping and extortion by leftist guerrillas. But the militias soon turned to drug trafficking and kidnapping as they snatched land and killed peasants in the name of counter-insurgency. Aided by billions of dollars of U.S. funding, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe has led a crackdown on rebels and negotiated the disarmament of the paramilitaries. The leftist rebels are still fighting, aided by money from the drug trade. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Slamming Obama McCain uses speech to AIPAC to criticize Obama for willingness to meet U.S. foes. Soldier kidnapping Three Israeli Arabs charged with planning to kidnap, kill soldier.   1.   Since the 80s 17:44  |  Davide C. 03/06/08

Read & React Housing Min.: Olmert backed move to build new homes in E. J'lem Responses: 158 Egypt tries to thwart EU pact to upgrade Israel trade ties Responses: 110 Assad: Israel must cede Syrian land 'stretching to Tiberias' Responses: 83 U.S. imam fighting deportation talks of torture by Israel Responses: 67 Natalie Portman to pitch Jewish-funded Rwanda youth village Responses: 40 Rosner's Domain Americans want talks with Iranian leadership (WTR) Obama leads in Lieberman land (WTR) McCain has been hammering at Obama Guest: Why educate child as Jew when he is not Jewish? Poll: What political option is better for Israel? More Headlines 16:52 IAF strikes Gaza after Qassams wound five in Negev 17:10 In war of words, Livni brands Iran the 'neighborhood bully' 17:52 Assad: Israel must cede Syrian land 'stretching to Tiberias' 11:33 Olmert visits U.S. with focus on defense ties, thwarting Iran 13:50 Settlers rebuild Hebron outpost after IDF razes it for 32nd time 16:03 Syria says it wants nuclear energy under Arab umbrella 09:55 Natalie Portman to pitch Jewish-funded youth village in Rwanda 17:19 Israel gives PA permission to open 3 police stations in West Bank 14:34 Haaretz Group appoints Gal Vertman as new chief designer 14:57 Justice Minister: 'Entire legal system' fighting to block Ramon wiretap probe 14:55 Norway court acquits 3 defendants accused of plotting attacks against Israeli, U.S. embassies 15:09 EU court halts extradition to Bogota of Israeli who trained paramilitaries 15:50 Center for German and European studies opens in Haifa Previous Editions Select Day 02 jun 01 jun 30 may 29 may 28 may 27 may 26 may 25 may 23 may 22 may 21 may 20 may

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