Jordan may ask extradition of Islamist cleric detained in London

Jordan said on Friday it has yet to decide whether to ask Britain to extradite Islamist cleric Abu Qatada, who was sentenced in his absence to life imprisonment by an Amman court for a 1998 "terrorist" plot.

“We have not asked for his extradition. We cannot jump to results or conclusion. We are still at the beginning of the process,” Interior Minister Awni Yarfas told Reuters.

He conveyed London informed Amman on Friday that Abu Qatada, the alleged spiritual leader of al Qaeda in Europe, was among 10 people arrested in London on Thursday in an anti-terrorism drive prompted by the July London bombings. Videos of Abu Qatada's speeches were reportedly found in the Hamburg flat of Mohamed Atta, who is believed to have been the leader of the September 11 hijackers.

“We were officially notified this morning of his arrest,” Yarfas stated, adding that he would contact the Jordanian prosecutor general on Sunday to review this issue. it should be stressed that Abu Qatada is a Jordanian national.