-  September 25 

EU: Suspects Cannot Face Execution

BRUSSELS, Belgium  - The European Union (news - web sites) reaffirmed Tuesday it will speed up extradition procedures for terrorism suspects, but stressed they would only be sent to the United States if there is a guarantee they would not face a death sentence.

 ``This has always been the principle that has been applied,'' Belgian Justice Minister Marc Verwilghen, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, told VRT radio.

EU governments have moved fast to set up closer police and judicial cooperation with each other and with the United States in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

 Last week, EU justice and home affairs ministers pushed through proposals to set up a European arrest warrant, which Verwilghen said would come into force in December, and to step up extradition procedures.

 However, European governments oppose the death penalty and have repeatedly asked Washington to abolish it. Verwilghen called on Washington to come up with some arrangement where extradited suspects would not face execution in convicted.