Copenhagen: A Danish judge today extended the detention of two Tunisians suspected of plotting to kill a Danish cartoonist who satirised Prophet Mohammed, one of the defence lawyers said.

The judge prolonged their detention for four weeks, lawyer Henrik Stagehorn told AFP.

The two, whose identities were not disclosed but who are aged 25 and 36,were arrested in a Danish police raid on February 12 along with a Dane of Moroccan origin who was later released.

According to police, the three were planning to murder Kurt Westergaard, 73,one of 12 cartoonists who drew caricatures of the prophet for a Danish newspaper, sparking angry protests across the Muslim world in early 2006.

The Danish justice ministry has ordered the Tunisian pair expelled without trial, which is permitted under Danish anti-terror laws introduced in 2002.

Both a district and an appeals court have ordered the two held in custody until their expulsion.

Lawyers for the pair have asked the Supreme Court to order the release of the suspects, and that court has summoned the parties to a meeting on May 15.

Source : PTI