Bin Laden's 'spiritual ambassador' freed

LONDON, May 9 (UPI) -- A radical Muslim cleric believed to be the "spiritual ambassador in Europe" for Osama bin Laden is to be freed on bail, a British judge ruled.

Abu Qatada, 48, who succeeded in his legal battle against being deported to Jordan in April, is set to be released from jail with bail requirements including a 22-hour house arrest, The Times of London reported.

Qatada asked the Special Immigration Appeals Commission for bail, claiming it was unlawful to hold him indefinitely without the possibility of deportation.

The judge's decision to free the cleric is the most recent in a string of legal rulings that go against the government's position on terrorist activities, the Times said.

The judge said he agreed that Qatada posed a security risk, but added that it would be overstepping the law to further jail him in the absence of a conviction or trial.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International