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Hamza fights extradition

14/ 5/2008

RADICAL Muslim cleric Abu Hamza has launched a High Court battle against extradition to the US to face terror charges.

He is wanted for allegedly trying to set up an al-Qaida training camp in Oregon. He is also claimed to have helped the gang who kidnapped Western tourists in Yemen in 1998, killing three Britons.

But his lawyers are arguing extradition should be blocked because evidence gained by torture was being used against him. They also claim it would be `unjust and oppressive' to extradite because of the passage of time and it would be incompatible with his human rights.

Egyptian-born Hamza, 49, is taking part in the hearing via a video link from Belmarsh top security prison, where he is serving a seven-year term for inciting followers - including the July 7 London bombers - to murder `non-believers'.