Chad has asked Senegal to extradite Chad's former president Hissene Habre to Belgium, where he is charged with against crimes against humanity.

Mr. Habre has been living in Dakar since he was overthrown by current Chadian President Idriss Deby more than 20 years ago.

Senegal placed the former ruler under house arrest in 2005, after the Belgium government charged him with crimes against humanity based on accusations made by Chadians living in Belgium.

Senegal was expected to extradite the former president to Chad. But Dakar abruptly canceled those plans earlier this month, after the United Nations warned that Mr. Habre could be tortured if returned to his homeland.

In 2008, a Chadian court tried the ousted leader in absentia and sentenced him to death for the torture and killing of political opponents.

A 1992 truth commission in Chad found Mr. Habre responsible for the widespread torture and deaths of at least 40,000 people.