Magharebia

Canada on Tuesday (May 8th) rejected Belhassen Trabelsi's appeal for residency. The brother-in-law of ousted Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali will remain in Canada until his separate claim for refugee status is decided.

Leila Trabelsi's multi-millionaire brother fled Tunisia aboard his yacht more than a year ago. The man known as "The Godfather" then flew to Canada with his wife, daughters and housekeeping staff.

In April, Tunisia submitted an extradition request for Trabelsi, who had been convicted in absentia on banking and customs fraud charges. The two countries are not bound by an extradition treaty, but such a motion is possible under the international convention for the fight against corruption.