A British court has ruled that a radical Islamist preacher described as one of Europe's leading Al-Qaeda operatives should be released on bail.
Abu Qatada -- whose real name is Omar Othman -- has spent the past six-and-a-half years in custody or under house arrest.
Britain accuses him of sponsoring terrorism but he has never faced formal charges.
The British government wants to deport Qatada, a Jordanian citizen, to Jordan to face terror charges but the European Court of Human Rights last month ruled against his deportation saying that evidence obtained by torture would be used against him in Jordan.
Qatada is expected to be released within days on bail under stringent conditions.
The government says it will continue the legal battle to have him deported.
Compiled from agency reports
Abu Qatada -- whose real name is Omar Othman -- has spent the past six-and-a-half years in custody or under house arrest.
Britain accuses him of sponsoring terrorism but he has never faced formal charges.
The British government wants to deport Qatada, a Jordanian citizen, to Jordan to face terror charges but the European Court of Human Rights last month ruled against his deportation saying that evidence obtained by torture would be used against him in Jordan.
Qatada is expected to be released within days on bail under stringent conditions.
The government says it will continue the legal battle to have him deported.
Compiled from agency reports