ROME, Dec 16: US Attorney General John Ashcroft flew back to Washington on Sunday after drawing a blank with European allies on extraditing suspects who face a possible death penalty, even apparently sparking a diplomatic spat with France on the issue.

Britain, Spain, Germany and Italy, who between them hold dozens of suspects rounded up in the wake of the September 11 attacks, all pledged their continued full cooperation with the United States.

But they made it clear that the extent of that cooperation would not stretch as far as extraditing suspects who could face the death penalty.

In the case of France, distaste for the US use of capital punishment may have been put a little too forcefully for Ashcroft, who quietly dropped Paris from his itinerary for last week’s European tour.

Diplomatic sources from both countries confirmed that Ashcroft had originally intended to hold talks in Paris with French Justice Minister Marylise Lebranchu.—AFP