THE UN human rights committee has called on Cape Verde to suspend the extradition of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab to the United States.

It said Mr Saab, who has been imprisoned for nearly a year on what Venezuela says are politically motivated charges, should get access to medical care of his choice and should not be deported until the committee has had further time to consider his case.

Mr Saab was on his way to Iran for trade talks when he was arrested while refuelling on the mid-Atlantic archipelago in obedience to a US request, though the excuse — an Interpol red notice — was not issued till afterwards, and was subsequently revoked.