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(Dakar) Senegalese police on Tuesday arrested a former Chad dictator wanted by Belgium for alleged war crimes, international rights workers and local media reported.

Reed Brody of New York-based Human Rights watch said Hissene Habre had been arrested, while private radio station Walf-Fadjri reported he was taken to a court for arraignment.

Habre, 63, has lived in exile in Senegal since rebel forces ousted him 15 years ago. He lived with his family along an isolated road in Dakar's upscale Almadies neighbourhood.

A lawyer representing victims of alleged torture, Boucounta Diallo, said Habre should not be released on bail and called for his extradition to Belgium, which has issued an international warrant for him.

"Fear is finally changing sides," Diallo told Walf-Fadjri. "From now on, dictators will watch themselves."

Senegalese prosecutors, police and Habre's lawyer could not be immediately reached for comment.

Habre is accused of torture, murder and a host of other crimes during his eight-year reign. A commission set up in Chad in 1992 accused Habre's regime of 40,000 political killings and 200,000 cases of torture.

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