QATADA IN 'ATTEMPT TO FLEE COUNTRY'

The 47-year-old will appear before an immigration hearing on Wednesday and could be returned to prison permanently.The Jordanian, who was once described by a judge as "Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe", is accused of trying to flee the country.

UK Border Agency officials allegedly discovered he was planning to escape to the Middle East - despite having his passport taken away.They convened a hearing on Friday and a judge ruled bail should be cancelled. Qatada was arrested the following day. Qatada was released in June after the courts ruled it would breach his human rights if he was deported back to Jordan.

Ministers are appealing against the decision but the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) ruled Qatada could be released on bail in the meantime.He is required to wear an electronic tag, stay for 22 hours a day in his west London home, and barred from using the internet or mobile phones. His bail also bans him from associating with known terrorists including bin Laden.SIAC first ruled Qatada could be deported because Britain had signed a "memorandum of understanding" with Amman guaranteeing he would not be tortured, but the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling.

Qatada was first arrested in 2001 by anti-terrorism police. He was carrying £170,000 in cash, including £805 in an envelope marked "For the mujahedin in Chechnya". He has been convicted of terrorism offences in Jordan in his absence.

Radical cleric Abu Qatada is considering leaving the UK if he can find a country to take him, an immigration tribunal has heard.