UK: Abu Qatada's European Court Appeal Move Fails

(Sky News) Jordanian terror suspect Abu Qatada has lost an attempt to appeal against deportation heard by Europe's top human rights judges.

The ruling clears the way for UK deportation proceedings against the radical cleric, described by a judge as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, to continue.

Home Secretary Theresa May said: "I am pleased by the European court's decision. The Qatada case will now go through the British courts."

A panel of five judges rejected Qatada's bid to have his appeal heard by the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights.

However the panel ruled his application was made in time, according to a spokesman for the Council of Europe, which runs the court.

Qatada lodged a last-minute appeal to the court on April 17, claiming he faced the threat of torture in Jordan.

But Mrs May has rejected the claim and said: "I am confident the assurances we have from Jordan mean we can put Abu Qatada on a plane and get him out of Britain."

Sky’s home affairs correspondent, Mark White said: "This decision out of Strasbourg will come as a huge relief for Theresa May, who has taken personal charge of the efforts to deport Abu Qatada.

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