Osama bin Laden's 'ambassador' faces deportation after deal

Charles Clarke, the Home Secretary, announced yesterday that authorities in Amman had agreed to give verifiable commitments not to impose the death sentence or impose torture on anyone handed over.

This was billed by ministers as the first in a string of deals aimed at dismantling what critics have called "Londonistan" - the community of Islamic extremists being protected from extradition.

Qatada, a Jordanian national, is wanted by eight police forces across three continents and is currently under house arrest in London. He has been suspected for years as a key player in the al-Qaeda network.

Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, made no reference to him yesterday - but said that there were several foreign nationals whom Britain cannot deport because the courts rule that they would be ill-treated.

"Even if we wish to deport people, occasionally we have been stopped from doing so on the grounds that the country to which they are deported may not pay sufficient regard to their human rights," he said.

"We are trying to conclude a series of memoranda of understanding with those countries. There was one concluded this morning with Jordan, which will help us in respect of certain cases."

Under English law, a foreign national cannot be deported if he faces the risk of mistreatment or the death sentence.

However, campaigners last night rounded on the deal, saying that the safety of accused terrorists could not be assured in countries such as Jordan and the north African states with whom Britain is also in talks.

"Promises from countries like Jordan, which are known to have used torture, are not worth the paper they are written on," said Kate Allen, the head of Amnesty International UK. "Going soft on torture is not the answer to terrorism."

Ian Macdonald, QC, a former Foreign Office lawyer who quit last year, said a deal with Jordan may fall well short of the proof a court requires.

Jordan, he said, "cannot guarantee a person's human rights, or that they will not be tortured or killed when they get back".

Downing Street conceded that its policy could indeed founder on such concerns. A lawyer representing a proposed deportee needs to raise reasonable doubt about the humanity with which the country would treat suspected terrorists.

"A memorandum of understanding is a recognised document in international diplomacy and no doubt a court will take that into account," said a No10 spokesman.

Mr Clarke yesterday confirmed the details of new anti-terrorism legislation expected in the autumn, which would introduce three new offences: acts preparatory to terrorism; indirect incitement to terrorism; and receiving terrorist training.

Entry to Britain can be denied to anyone found "not conducive to public good". This ground can also be used to revoke Indefinite Leave to Remain - a status afforded to foreign nationals who live in Britain without becoming citizens.

A higher burden of proof, the "incitement or glorification of terrorism", would now be enough to prosecute a British national. Its precise definition remains unclear.

A new database will track individuals around the world who have demonstrated "unacceptable behaviour" - defined as preaching, running websites and writing articles when those activities foment or provoke acts of terrorism.

The Home Office encouraged broad interpretation of these statutes, as officials suggested that anyone who called for jihad could be prosecuted if their words led to incitement to terrorism.

Mr Blair has also started work on convening a counter-terrorism summit, where 26 Islamic and western countries will discuss how best to tackle extremism. The summit is expected to be held in Wilton Park, Sussex.