The Union Cabinet on Thursday night approved Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's decision to give a sovereign assurance to Portugal that gangster Abu Salem, wanted in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts, would not be given capital punishment if he was extradited to India.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj said after a meeting of the Cabinet that Vajpayee had approved the proposal on December 12 and the assurance was conveyed to Portugal on December 27.

"India is awaiting Portugal's response," she said.

Swaraj said the assurance was given in accordance with Article 72 (1)(b) of the Constitution after Attorney General Soli Sorabji gave his opinion that this could be done.

Portuguese authorities had arrested Salem and his companion Monica Bedi on September 12 last year on the charge of possessing forged documents.

They told India that they would not consider Salem's extradition till an assurance was given that he would not be given capital punishment, and in case he was given a lifer, it would not exceed 25 years.

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