Britain allowed to deport radical Jordanian cleric

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) A hardline Islamic cleric believed to have close links to al Qaeda in Britain, will be sent back to Jordan after the government won a legal battle today over its decision to deport him.

Judge Duncan Ouseley said Abu Qatada's appeal against deportation had been dismissed.

The case of Abu Qatada, a Jordanian national who came to Britain in 1993, was a key test of British efforts to allow deportations to countries accused of torture by securing special agreements that deportees will not be ill treated.

REUTERS PB BD1626