Toronto: Canada has said it will comply with the new Tunisian government's request to extradite the brother-in-law of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
Belhassen Trabelsi, a billionaire Tunisian businessman and brother of former first lady Leila Trabelsi, reportedly arrived in Canada last week with his family.
Canadian Foreign Minister Lawrence Cannon on Friday said that "we don't want criminals like him in Canada, and we will comply with Tunisia's request."
Canada is also freezing the assets of Trabelsi, who is in Montreal with his family. Cannon said every effort will be made to track down accounts belonging to Trabelsi.
Cannon said authorities are in constant contact with Trabelsi's lawyer in Montreal. Under Canadian law, it could take years to extradite Trabelsi if he applies for asylum and appeals the extradition request.
Tunisia's government issued an international arrest warrant Wednesday for the president, accusing him of taking money out of the North African nation illegally. It also is seeking six of Ben Ali's relatives but their names haven't been made public.
Nejmeddine Lakhal, a spokesman at Tunisia's embassy in Ottawa, said the arrest request was sent to Canada's foreign affairs department. He said Trabelsi's diplomatic passport has also been canceled.
Huge street protests forced Ben Ali to flee to Saudi Arabia on January 14 after 23 years in power.
Belhassen Trabelsi reportedly used his Canadian permanent resident status to enter the country last week. It was not clear where he went first after fleeing Tunisia. France had said some Ben Ali relatives went there, but were "not welcome" to stay.
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