| | |  Americas & Beyond 
Guatemala: Mexico to Decide if US Gets Ex-Leader
 Associated Press
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January 29, 2010
| | Former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo sits in a court in Guatemala City January 26, 2010. (Reuters/Doriam Morales) | |
Guatemala City — A lawyer for former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo said Thursday that neighboring Mexico did not properly approve his arrest, a move necessary under the ex-leader's 2008 extradition from Mexico back home.
Portillo now faces possible extradition to the United States to face money laundering charges. That move will also require Mexico's approval.
Treaties allow extradition only for a stated purpose, and the 2008 extradition from Mexico sent Portillo back to face corruption charges in Guatemala, where he was freed on bail.
Portillo's lawyer, Humberto Castillejos, said Mexico's ambassador to Guatemala approved the detention of the former leader Tuesday on the U.S. extradition request, but the attorney argued that was not legally sufficient.
Mexico's Foreign Relations Department disagreed. It said Wednesday that Mexico properly gave consent for Portillo's detention.
The department also said that sending Portillo to the United States would require a separate approval from Mexico, but it said no request for permission had yet been received.
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