[JURIST] Representatives of Cuba and Venezuela Wednesday criticized the US during a UN Security Council meeting [press release] for failing to turn over anti-Castro militant Luis Posada Carriles [JURIST news archive; case materials], saying that the US is bound by international treaties, including the International Convention for the Suppression of Terrorist Bombings and the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation [texts], to extradite Carriles. Carriles, a Venezuelan-born Cuban citizen, is wanted in both Cuba and Venezuela on terrorism charges relating to the 1976 bombing of a Cuban airline [Aviation Safety Network backgrounder]. A senior US diplomat denied that the US is acting contrary to law, saying that US actions are "consistent with international law as well as our domestic legal framework, which provides for due process and various constitutional safeguards." AP has more.

Carriles was arrested in 2005 [JURIST report] for illegally entering the United States and had been under the custody of immigration officials until his release on bail [JURIST report] in April 2007. Cuba criticized Carriles' release, and accused the United States of violating international anti-terrorism treaties by freeing him and dismissing charges [JURIST reports] against him. Also in April 2007, Venezuela announced plans to challenge the US [JURIST report] before the Organization of American States [official website] and other international forums for refusing to prosecute or extradite Carriles for the terrorist bombing. The US government has thus far denied Cuban and Venezuelan requests [JURIST report] for Carriles' extradition, citing the UN Convention Against Torture as Carriles may face torture in Cuba or Venezuela.