Security services of Jordan, Britain cooperate on terrorist suspects extradition

In the aftermath of the 7/7 London attacks Jordanian and British security agencies agreed to extradite wanted people.

A memorandum of understanding was signed by Interior Minister Awni Yirfas and the deputy chief of mission at the British Embassy, Pat Phillips.

"The headline of the memorandum is clear," Yirfas told reporters, "it allows either of the two countries to extradite any person who is wanted, according to a set of rules."

He said the rules give the extradited person the right to a lawyer and the right "not to be exposed to beating and humiliation."

Yirfas said the agreement had nothing to do with the July 7 terrorist bombings in London, the AP reports.

He declined to say whether a Palestinian extremist who lives in Britain, Omar Mahmoud abu Omar, better known as Abu Qatada, would be extradited to Jordan under the agreement.

"I can't comment on this because it is up to the Jordanian judiciary, not the Ministry of Interior," Yirfas said.

Abu Qatada, 45, was sentenced in Jordan in absentia to life imprisonment after being convicted of involvement in a series of explosions and terror plots, including a plan to attack American and Israeli tourists at the time of the 2000 Millennium celebrations.

Abu Qatada is alleged to have inspired Mohammed Atta, the Egyptian who led the hijackers involved in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States. The British government said 18 videotapes of Abu Qatada's sermons were found in a appartment used by Atta and two other Sept. 11 hijackers in Hamburg, Germany.

Abu Qatada, who has lived in Britain since 1993, was released in March after being detained by British authorities for three years. He is reportedly under close surveillance.