Vic: Australian govt did not ask for Hicks gag - Ruddock

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2007
Vic: Australian govt did not ask for Hicks gag - Ruddock

Attorney General PHILIP RUDDOCK says the HOWARD government didn't ask the United States
for a gag order to be placed on confessed terrorist DAVID HICKS.

He's told ABC radio he wasn't privy to HICKS' plea deal with the US.

And he says he assumes HICKS willingly agreed to include a clause denying he was mistreated
during his five years in US custody.

ABC television program Four Corners last night reported HICKS recently signed an affidavit
for an English court .. setting out ill treatment.





The 31-year-old father of two will serve nine months in an Adelaide jail .. after pleading
guilty to providing material support for terrorism.

He'll be behind bars until after the federal election .. due in November .. and has
agreed not to speak to the media for a year.

AAP RTV sam/gfr/jmt

KEYWORD: HICKS RUDDOCK (MELBOURNE)

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