ST JOHN'S, Antigua (CMC):

Justice Minister Collin Derrick has dismissed media reports that, as a condition of sending Scotland Yard detectives to help investigate the murder of two British citizens in Antigua and Barbuda, Britain wanted assurances from the government that anyone found guilty of the killings would not be hanged.

Eight Scotland Yard detectives have arrived here to assist local investigators probe the deaths of Benjamin and Catherine Mullany, who were killed while on honeymoon at a local resort.

The British media reported that Scotland Yard delayed sending the detectives because London was concerned that the killer or killers could face the death penalty.

"On the death penalty, the United Kingdom is continuing in parallel to seek assurances from the Antiguan government that anyone found guilty will not face the death penalty," the British Broadcasting Corporation quoted a foreign office official as saying.