UK court allows deportation of radical Jordan cleric

LONDON, Feb 26 (Reuters) A hardline Islamic cleric believed to have close links to al Qaeda in Britain today lost his appeal against a government decision to deport him to Jordan.

Judge Duncan Ouseley said the appeal by Abu Qatada, a Jordanian who came to Britain in 1993, had been dismissed.

The case of Abu Qatada was a key test of the legality of British efforts to deport people to countries accused of torture by securing special agreements that deportees would not be ill treated.

Britain has signed special agreements with countries such as Jordan containing guarantees that deportees will be well treated.

The memoranda of understanding are meant to circumvent European human rights legislation which forbids member states from deporting people to countries where they could be tortured.

Abu Qatada has twice been convicted by Jordan in absentia on charges of involvement in terrorist plots and argues he would be ill treated by authorities if he were sent back to his homeland.

Abu Qatada, who has repeatedly been linked to radical Islamist groups including Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network, is in detention awaiting the outcome of the legal wrangle.

REUTERS PB PM1646