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UK makes moves to deport terror supporters

Britain took dramatic steps Thursday to deport Islamic radicals, heralding a new approach to domestic terrorism. The British government detained 10 foreigners and planned to deport them to their home countries once it had received assurances that they would not be subjected to torture and inhumane treatment.

Among the men is Sheikh Omar Mahmood Abu Omar, or "Abu Qatada", a Palestinian cleric, who has been called Al Qaeda`s "spiritual leader in Europe". Eighteen videotapes of his sermons were found in the German apartment used by three Sept. 1, 2001 attackers. He is wanted by France for links to Algerian terror groups, and by Jordan, which convicted him in absentia for planning terror attacks in in 1998 and 2000.

"What you`re seeing the government do is actually fairly clever," says Bob Ayres, a security analyst at Chatham House. "By going after and deporting high-visibility foreign nationals they`re setting a precedent. And in the current climate, the courts aren`t going to go against public sentiment and oppose the government over this."

The British government announced Thursday a new agreement with Jordan that suspects deported there will not be mistreated - this would ensure that Britain does not break its obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights - and the Foreign Office hopes to sign more, similar agreements soon.