A request by a French couple to get married in Malta, even as it awaits the outcome of extradition proceedings, faced strong opposition in court today, with a lawyer from the Attorney General's Office saying this was nothing but "a stunt of last resort".

Alain Schmitt, 49, the leader of a French religious sect, and his 47-year-old fiancée Laurence Liegeois made their request to a court hearing the extradition proceedings last week.

But Dr Donatella Frendo Dimech, from the AG's office, said this request came hot on the heels of allegations of ill-treatment by the police, which had been rebutted by medical experts.

The couple was convicted of torture and kidnapping and escaped custody in France two years ago while awaiting sentencing.

Dr Frendo Dimech said all sort of allegations and manoeuvres were being made to stall the proceedings.

Defence counsel Emmy Bezzina said that to get married was a human right and that no-one should deny.

Dr Frendo Dimech said that there was no evidence that there ever was an intention to marry before last Friday. She said that no-one was depriving the couple its right to marry, but one must not expect the court to enter into issues which are entirely outside of its competence.

Dr Bezzina said the convictions handed down in France were given in absentia and the allegations for those convictions were not true.

Magistrate Joseph Apap Bologna ruled that the convictions constituted extraditable offences and said that he would give a decree on the wedding later this week.