UK: Cleric arrested to be deported to Jordan

[April 17, 2012]  LONDON (AP) -- A radical Islamist cleric has been arrested in Britain and told the country's government will resume attempts to deport him to his native Jordan following a protracted legal battle.

Authorities have been attempting to deport Abu Qatada, a Palestinian-Jordanian preacher described in both Spanish and British courts as a leading al-Qaida figure in Europe, since 2005 claiming he poses a risk to national security.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in January that Abu Qatada could not be deported because of a risk that evidence obtained through torture would be used against him in Jordan in a looming trial on terrorism charges.

Britain's government now believes new assurances from Jordan over the cleric's right to a fair trial mean his deportation can go ahead.

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THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE.
AP's earlier story is below.

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LONDON (AP) -- Britain's government says it hasn't appealed against a European court ruling which has prevented the U.K. from deporting a radical Islamist cleric to Jordan.

But Home Secretary Theresa May is scheduled to announce Tuesday that she believes new assurances from Jordan will allow her to send Abu Qatada back to his native Jordan.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in January that Abu Qatada could not be deported there, because of a risk evidence obtained through torture would be used against him in a looming trial on terrorism charges.

Britain's government said it did not lodge an appeal against the ruling before a midnight deadline.

May believes new assurances from Jordan over the issue will convince the courts Abu Qatada's deportation can go ahead.

[Associated Press]

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