The Mozambican Attorney General's Office (PGR) admitted yesterday that it had exhausted all possibilities of appealing against the extradition of former Finance Minister Manuel Chang to the USA. Even so, it considers the ruling to be unfair and regrets that its arguments were not heeded by the courts in Pretoria.

In a statement issued yesterday, the PGR said that it will not appeal against the decision of the Constitutional Court of South Africa, which yesterday rejected the request for an appeal against the extradition of Manuel Chang, so that the former finance minister could be sent to stand trial in Maputo.

"This decision has negative implications for the ongoing process in Mozambique and abroad. Mozambique continues to believe that its pleas are valid and, unfortunately, at no time have they been heeded by the South African courts, which have focused on matters of form to the detriment of matters of substance, which, in our view, constitutes an injustice," the statement said.

The PGR recognizes, however, that there is no longer any room for appeal, but says it will continue the proceedings against Chang until the outcome.

As well as rejecting the request for an appeal, the Pretoria Constitutional Court jury ruled that the OPG must pay the legal costs of the case, a matter that raises concern.