UK loses latest battle to deport cleric

THE British government has vowed not to give up its fight to deport radical Islamist cleric Abu Qatada to Jordan after losing its latest court challenge to have him expelled.

Lawyers for Home Secretary Theresa May lost their appeal against a decision by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) in November to allow the Jordanian to stay in Britain.

Three judges at the Court of Appeal acknowledged that ministers believed Abu Qatada to be an "exceptionally high risk terrorist" but said this was not relevant to what their considering..

The Home Office or interior ministry has smeared that he will keep fighting, As he Twitted: "We will not stop here. The government remains determined to deport Abu Qatada."

It said ministers planned to seek leave to appeal, further dragging out a case that has been a thorn in the side of successive British governments for the last decade.

Abu Qatada meanwhile remains in custody. He was released on bail as following November's decision, but was sent back to jail earlier this month for breaching the conditions of his release.

The 52-year-old cleric, whose real name is Omar Mohammed Othman, has been convicted in Jordan in his absence of terrorism offences and is likely to face a retrial if and when he is sent back.

But he has successfully fought off attempts at deportation since 2005 by arguing that his human rights would be violated on his return.