Cleric denies charges of terrorism

THE RADICAL al-Qaida-linked preacher Abu Qatada, who was deported from Britain to Jordan, has pleaded not guilty to terrorism charges at the start of his trial.

Qatada, 53, is charged with plotting terror attacks against Israelis, Americans and other westerners in Jordan in two foiled attempts in 1999 and 2000.

In both cases Qatada, who was abroad at the time, was convicted in absentia and sentenced to life in prison.

But on his deportation to his homeland in July, those sentences were suspended and he had to be retried under Jordanian law.

On his arrival in Amman on July 7, Jordanian prosecutors charged Qatada with conspiring to carry out terror attacks in Jordan twice — once in 1999 for a foiled plot against the US school in the Jordanian capital and in 2000 for allegedly targeting Israeli and US tourists and western diplomats during millennium celebrations.

The court, consisting of two civilian judges and a military one, said the cases will be heard separately.

But Qatada objected to the presence of the military judge and said it violated an agreement with Britain that meant to guarantee him a fair trial in his homeland.

He appeared defiant as he stood in the dock yesterday and said: “I will not answer questions by this court because I do not recognise its jurisdiction.”

The proceedings were adjourned to December 24.

Abu Qatada.