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Abu Hamza fights US extradition Abu Hamza fights US extradition
(about 2 hours later)
Controversial Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri should not be extradited to the US to face terror charges, a court has been told.Controversial Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri should not be extradited to the US to face terror charges, a court has been told.
Lawyers for the 49-year-old told a hearing in London that evidence had been gained through torture and should not be used against him. Lawyers for Abu Hamza, 49, from west London, told a hearing that evidence had been gained through torture and should not be used against him.
Abu Hamza is currently serving seven years in Belmarsh prison, London, for inciting murder and race hate. Abu Hamza is currently serving seven years in Belmarsh prison for inciting murder and race hate.
US authorities want the cleric to face trial for terror-related charges.US authorities want the cleric to face trial for terror-related charges.
The US government is seeking his extradition and trial on charges of conspiring to take Western hostages in Yemen, funding terrorism, and organising a "terrorist training camp" in Oregon between 1998 and 2000.The US government is seeking his extradition and trial on charges of conspiring to take Western hostages in Yemen, funding terrorism, and organising a "terrorist training camp" in Oregon between 1998 and 2000.
Abu Hamza appeared via video link and the hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court is expected to last several days. The 11 charges carry a potential jail sentence of 100 years.
Egyptian-born Abu Hamza, who preached at Finsbury Park Mosque, in north London, was convicted in February 2006 of 11 of 15 charges he faced. 'Jihad'
Preliminary extradition proceedings took place in May and this full hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court is expected to last several days. Abu Hamza appeared via video link.
At the earlier hearings, the US government accused Abu Hamza of being part of a global terror network which plotted Jihad against the West.
Hugo Keith, representing the US government, told Woolwich Crown Court at one of those hearings: "The general allegation is that Mr Hamza is a member of a global conspiracy to wage Jihad against the US and other Western countries."
Mr Keith said that a group of Westerners including 12 Britons, two Americans and two Australians were abducted in Yemen in 1998, partly in order to gain the release of Abu Hamza's stepson Mohsen Ghailan and five others.
The hearing was told that Abu 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.
Egyptian-born Abu Hamza, who preached at Finsbury Park Mosque, in north London, was convicted in February 2006 of 11 of 15 charges he faced in the UK.
In addition to being jailed for soliciting murder, he was also found guilty of inciting racial hatred, possessing "threatening, abusive or insulting recordings" and for having a document useful to terrorists.In addition to being jailed for soliciting murder, he was also found guilty of inciting racial hatred, possessing "threatening, abusive or insulting recordings" and for having a document useful to terrorists.