Pakistani court extends American's custody

LAHORE, Pakistan, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- The detention of a U.S. consular employee accused of killing two Pakistanis can be extended by eight more days, a Lahore court ruled.

The decision Thursday will allow Pakistani authorities to hold Raymond Davis until Feb. 11, China's Xinhua news agency reported, quoting court officials.

The employee of the U.S. Consulate in Lahore was arrested Jan. 27, accused of shooting two Pakistanis. A third Pakistani died when hit by a vehicle during the incident.

Davis's release is being sought by the U.S. government, which says he has diplomatic immunity and acted in self-defense as the two armed men tried to rob him. Pakistanis say the man's diplomatic immunity has not been proved and it is up to the court to decide the issue.

The incident threatens to estrange relations between the two countries and further aggravate anti-American feelings in Pakistan, which is seen as a key ally in the fight against terrorism.

Separately, Pakistani Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani told the National Assembly his government will not accept any pressure to release him.

The U.S. State Department has said the employee is a member of the embassy's "technical administrative staff" and therefore entitled to immunity.