Fed: Downer says no regrets over Hicks case

AAP General News (Australia)
12-31-2007
Fed: Downer says no regrets over Hicks case

Former foreign minister ALEXANDER DOWNER says he has no regrets over the way the HOWARD
government handled the case of confessed terrorism supporter DAVID HICKS.

But Mr DOWNER has conceded the US government mishandled the HICKS case.

He's told ABC television .. what HICKS did was evil and treacherous and the HOWARD
government handled the case correctly.

HICKS remains in hiding at a secret location in Adelaide following his release from
jail yesterday.

He was freed from custody for the first time in more than six years after completing
a sentence struck in a plea bargain with the US military commission.

The 32-year-old father of two is now subject to a control order .. which Mr DOWNER
says he supports.

AAP RTV mn/crh/tm

KEYWORD: HICKS DOWNER (SYDNEY)

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