The United States' attempt to have the self-styled cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri extradited on terror charges was put back for a month Wednesday, the court ruled. Hamza, 48, appeared by video link from Belmarsh Prison at Westminster Magistrates' Court, central London, for a hearing lasting less than two minutes.The US Government is to seek Hamza's "temporary surrender'' under the 2003 Extradition Act which would allow him to be tried across the Atlantic for charges including providing support to al Qaida and involvement in a hostage taking conspiracy in Yemen. Once tried in the US he would then be returned to the UK to complete his jail term before being extradited again to serve any sentence received in the US.
But last July the Court of Appeal, in central London, gave Hamza leave to appeal after lawyers on his behalf argued that because of a long delay in bringing the prosecution it had become "impossible" for him to have a fair trial. Judge Anthony Evans was told by his clerk that lawyers had informed the court that there was a possibility of an appeal to the House of Lords, the highest court in the land. Judge Evans told Hamza, who was not represented at today's hearing, that under the circumstances the matter would be adjourned for 28 days until November 8.