Washington: Amid deepening diplomatic stand-off, US President Barack Obama on Tuesday asked Pakistan to follow the Vienna Convention and release American diplomat Raymond Davis, who is facing trial on murder charges.
"With respect to Mr Davis, our diplomat in Pakistan, we've got a very simple principle here that every country in the world that is party to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations has upheld in the past and should uphold in the future," Obama told reporters at a news conference.
"If our diplomats are in another country, then they are not subject to that country's local prosecution. We respect it with respect to diplomats who are here. We expect Pakistan, that's a signatory and recognize Mr. Davis as a
diplomat, to abide by the same convention," Obama said in response to a question.
Obama, however, refrained from giving details of Administration s specific conversation with the Pakistani Government but said he is very firm about this.
36-year-old Davis was arrested in Lahore on January 27 after he shot down in a Lahore market two Pakistani men, who he said were trying to rob him. The US has been demanding immediate release of Davis arguing that he enjoys diplomatic
immunity, which has been denied by Pakistan.
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