European Court Refuses Cleric's U.K. Appeal

Jordanian preacher Abu Qatada leaves the Special Immigration Appeals Commission in central London last month.

A radical preacher accused of inspiring some of the 9/11 hijackers has lost a legal bid in the European courts to challenge Britain's attempts to deport him to Jordan to stand trial on terrorism charges.

Cleric Abu Qatada had asked the European Court of Human Rights to refer his case to a panel of its most senior judges.

The court said it turned down his request, paving the way for Britain to send him back to Jordan after a decade of legal wrangling.

Qatada's lawyers had argued that he risked being tortured in Jordan.

Britain reached an agreement with Jordan in 2005 to try to ensure Qatada is not mistreated.

Britain says videotapes of his sermons were found in a German apartment used by three of the September 11, 2001, hijackers.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters