Jihadist ordered deported, but he's staying

Radical cleric Abu Qatada will stay in Britain for months despite a House of Lords ruling that he should be deported to Jordan where he faces terror charges.

The Law Lords said Qatada, dubbed "Osama Bin Laden's right hand man in Europe", could be sent back to Jordan where he faces terror charges after overturning a Court of Appeal decision.

But the extremist could still remain in the country for many months if he takes his case to the European Court of Human Rights.

The judgment is a victory for the Home Office in its long-running campaign to remove Qatada from Britain, which has cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds already.

The Law Lords also ruled in favour of the Government over its attempts to deport two other men to Algeria.
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said a deportation order will be served on Qatada immediately.

However any attempts to remove him would be put on hold if the case goes to Europe.
Ms Smith said: "I'm delighted with the Lords' decision today in the cases of Abu Qatada and the two Algerians 'RB' and 'U'.
"It highlights the threat these individuals pose to our nation's security and vindicates our efforts to remove them.

"My top priority is to protect public safety and ensure national security and I have signed Abu Qatada's deportation order which will be served on him today.
"I am keen to deport this dangerous individual as soon as I can."
In a statement, Qatada's lawyer confirmed his intention to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights.

The move is likely to delay any moves to deport him for months and even years....