Fed: ASIO/AFP team to interrogate Hicks, says Williams

AAP General News (Australia)
12-19-2001
Fed: ASIO/AFP team to interrogate Hicks, says Williams

CANBERRA, Dec 19 AAP - Australian investigators from ASIO and the federal police had
been given the go-ahead to interrogate Australian al-Qaeda fighter David Hicks, Attorney-General
Daryl Williams said today.

Hicks, from Adelaide, is being held on an American warship in the Indian Ocean, together
with captured American Taliban recruit John Walker.

Hicks was captured by Northern Alliance troops in Afghanistan last week and was transferred
to the USS Peleliu with at least four other prisoners.

"What we have been advised by the US authorities is that they will facilitate access
by the Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation/ Australian Federal Police team," Mr
Williams told Channel Nine.

"So there has been a bit of progress.

"We're working on getting the ASIO/AFP team over there to interrogate him on the ship."

He said whether Hicks would be returned to Australia or not was a matter which needed
to be discussed in light of any information he provided.

AAP dep/cjh

KEYWORD: TERROR AUST HICKS

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