Czechs extradite militant suspect to United States

PRAGUE, Sep 25 (Reuters) The Czech Republic has extradited a Swedish-Lebanese national suspected of running a militant training camp to the United States, the Justice Ministry said today.

The suspect, Oussama Abdullah Kassir, is wanted by a federal court in New Jersey for allegedly setting up the camp in Bly, Oregon, and for running Web sites showing how to assemble bombs and prepare poisons.

If convicted, he faces a life sentence on each of the two charges, the ministry said.

The ministry said it had found no reason to reject the extradition request after the United States pledged Kassir would be tried by a federal court and that he would have the possibility of consular assistance from Sweden and Lebanon.

''The American side provided the Czech Republic with the highest possible guarantee -- in the form of a diplomatic note from the local embassy -- that Oussama Abdullah Kassir will not be held or imprisoned in any other than a civilian facility, ' the ministry said.

''That means he will not be imprisoned at the Guantanamo base.'' Kassir was detained on Dec. 11, 2005 at the Prague airport.

REUTERS JK ND1632