An Italian court Wednesday approved the extradition to Britain of a London bombing suspect arrested in Rome, but said he must remain in Italy for 35 more days so Italian authorities could finish their investigations.

The three-judge panel granted a request by Italian prosecutors to delay the transfer of Hamdi Issac, who has been sought by Britain for his alleged role in the July 21 failed bombings on London's transport system.

Judge Domenicomassimo Miceli said judges deliberated for about two hours. "We evaluated in a positive light the documentation that arrived from the British authorities, which was fairly complete," said Miceli, one of three judges who issued the ruling.

"The request for extradition has been approved within 35 days to allow time for the prosecutor's office to complete its investigations," Miceli said.

Issac's lawyer, Antonietta Sonnessa, said she would appeal the ruling. She has said Issac wants to remain in Italy.

Sonnessa has 10 days to appeal to the Court of Cassation, Italy's highest court. That court then has to make its ruling within 15 days.

Paolo Iorio, a lawyer representing the British Government in the case, said the 35-day period would not hold up investigations in Britain.

"I am absolutely satisfied. They accepted the British Government's request," Iorio said.

Issac, a British citizen also known as Osman Hussain, is being held in Rome on international terrorism charges following his arrest in the Italian capital on July 29.

He is wanted in connection with the failed July 21 attacks, which came two weeks after four deadly explosions on the London transport system left 56 people dead.

Miceli said that Issac, who was present for Wednesday's extradition hearing, remained silent as the sentence was read.

Italian prosecutors had asked for a delay of the extradition ruling to allow them to see further legal evidence from British authorities including analyses of the contents of the bag that Issac allegedly carried onto a subway train at London's Shepherd's Bush station on the day of the attacks.

Through his lawyer, Issac has claimed his bag contained a mixture of flour and a liquid hair product and was not meant to kill.

Source: China Daily