Malaysia says it will not extradite to the United States a former army captain wanted for his alleged links to the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi told reporters that Yazid Sufaat, who was detained in December, will be dealt with under Malaysian law.

Malaysia accuses Mr. Yazid of being a member of a local Islamic group (Kumpulan Militan Malaysia), which is seeking to establish a strict Islamic state in Malaysia. He is being held under the Internal Security Act, which allows detention without trial.

But the United States wants Mr. Yazid extradited to face charges he played a role in the September 11th attacks. U.S. investigators believe he is also a member of a Southeast Asia-based Muslim extremist group with ties to the al-Qaida terrorist network.

U.S. officials say Mr. Yazid may have hosted in Malaysia two of the September 11 hijackers, as well as Zacarias Moussaoui, who now faces trial in the United States in connection with the attacks. (ap, afp, ryu cr, prev)

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