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Abu Hamza extradition case begins Hamza 'part of Jihad conspiracy'
(about 11 hours later)
Extradition proceedings have begun against Abu Hamza al-Masri - although the radical Muslim cleric was not well enough to appear in court. Radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri was part of a global terror network which plotted Jihad against the west, a hearing has been told.
The 48-year-old is fighting US attempts to put him on trial on terror charges. On the first day of extradition proceedings against him, Hamza, 48, was accused of involvement in the kidnap of westerners in the Yemen.
The hearing was adjourned on Wednesday because Abu Hamza was still recovering from an operation on one of his arms. The United States government wants to put the cleric on trial.
The House of Lords paved the way for the case after refusing the Londoner, who is serving a UK jail term, leave to appeal against his convictions. But Hamza's barrister said some of its evidence was obtained by torture and the application should fail.
The case, scheduled to last four days, is being heard by Senior District Judge Timothy Workman at Woolwich Crown Court. 'Global conspiracy'
Abu Hamza's defence team are expected to question the legality of the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, where he could be held. He advocated the defence of Islam through unlawful, violent and armed aggression Hugo KeithLawyer for the US government
The Egyptian-born cleric, who formerly preached at Finsbury Park Mosque in north London, faces 11 terror charges in the US, which carry a potential jail sentence of 100 years.
He is currently serving a seven-year jail term in the UK for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred.
Hugo Keith, representing the American government, told the hearing: "The general allegation is that Mr Hamza is a member of a global conspiracy to wage Jihad against the US and other western countries.
"Jihad carried out in numerous parts of the world - the UK, Afghanistan, Yemen and US.
"He advocated the defence of Islam through unlawful, violent and armed aggression in order to influence the US government."
Mr Keith said that a group of westerners including 12 Britons, two Americans and two Australians were abducted in Yemen, partly in order to gain the release of Hamza's stepson Mohsen Ghailan and five others.
The hearing was told that Hamza gave advice to the hostage-takers and provided them with a satellite phone.
Four of the captives - Britons Margaret Whitehouse, 52, a teacher from Hampshire, Ruth Williamson, 34, an NHS employee from Edinburgh, university lecturer Peter Rowe, 60, from Durham and Australian Andrew Thirsk - were killed after Yemeni authorities tried to rescue them.
'Abuse of process'
The hearing was told that Hamza provided expenses for Feroz Abbasi, one of the former British Guantanamo Bay detainees, to travel to Afghanistan.
The cleric is also accused of helping fund another man's visit to a terrorist training camp in the Middle East, and helping set up a similar camp in Bly, Oregon, in the US.
Hamza missed the morning session at Woolwich Crown Court because he was recovering from an operation to remove an inch of bone from his arm.
He attended the hearing in the afternoon session but sat with his head bowed as and the stump on his left arm heavily bandaged.
Alun Jones, QC, for Hamza, said the evidence against his client had been obtained by torture.
Mr Jones added: "This means the extradition request constitutes an abuse of process of the court and shouldn't be received."
The House of Lords paved the way for the case after refusing Hamza leave to appeal against his convictions.
The hearing, which is expected to last a further three days, was adjourned.