Haneef questioned by UK officer, Australian police

MELBOURNE: Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, who has been detained in Brisbane in connection with the UK terror plots, was on Thursday interrogated by the Australian police and a British counter-terrorism expert.

With the court order for detention without charge of Haneef expiring on Thursday night, investigators are working against time to question the medico.

Though Federal Attorney General Philip Ruddock has refused to rule out asking for an extension of the 48-hour court order used to detain Haneef, sources told the 'Herald' newspaper that the Australian Federal Police (AFP) is highly unlikely to seek to detain him without charge any longer.

The court order for the detention without charge of 27-year-old doctor is due to expire tonight.

The Australian and British counter-terrorism officials have about 12 hours of interview time with Haneef, the 'Herald' newspaper said.

Meanwhile, the doctor has been granted consular access.

A consul met Haneef, who was detained at Brisbane international airport, Deputy High commissioner Vinod Kumar said but declined to give further details.

He said further details will be disclosed through Indian government back home.

Haneef, who has been working as a registrar at the Gold Coast Hospital, is one of the eight persons, one in Australia and seven in the UK, being detained by police in connection with the failed terror plots. All of them are medically trained.