ISLAMABAD - PAKISTAN'S president indicated on Wednesday he would not hand over 20 terrorist suspects wanted by India in the wake of the Mumbai attacks.

Asked twice if Pakistan will deliver the suspects as demanded, Asif Ali Zardari said only that the men would be tried in a Pakistani court.

'If we had the proof, we would try them in our courts, we would try them in our land and we would sentence them,' he said on CNN Larry King Live.

India has handed Pakistan a list of 20 wanted men. It is unclear how many - if any - are believed to be directly involved in the Mumbai attacks.

Mr Zardari's new civilian administration would likely face a fierce backlash from Muslim groups and nationalists if it simply handed over the suspects to Pakistan's old foe, India.

India say that members of a banned Pakistani militant group carried out the attacks that left 171 people dead.

Mr Zardari also said he doubted the sole suspect being held in the attacks by India is a Pakistani citizen, as authorities there say.

Pakistan, which is seeking to salvage a painstaking peace process between two countries that have already fought three wars, has pledged full cooperation with India over the attacks. -- AP