LA terror suspect fights extradition

Amar Makhlulif (right) faces terrorism charges in the US

Lawyers for an Algerian accused of plotting with Osama Bin Laden to blow up Los Angeles Airport have told a UK court he would be denied justice if extradited.

Amar Makhlulif appeared at high security Belmarsh Magistrates Court in south east London on Monday.

The United States wants the 37-year-old to face trial in America for his alleged involvement in a plot to blow up the airport on the eve of the millennium.

Counsel representing the US Government told the court Mr Makhlulif was one of the leaders of an Algerian terrorist cell.

Los Angeles airport was the alleged target

Mr Makhlulif denies all five terrorism charges brought by the US against him.

The indictment lodged in New York claims Mr Makhlulif was based in Britain from where he organised the cell which trained in terrorist camps in Afghanistan.

'Key recruiter'

The court was told Mr Makhlulif, also known by the surname Doha and as 'The Doctor', had been arrested at London Heathrow Airport boarding a flight to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in February last year.

He had been carrying a Spanish passport, the court heard.

Ben Emmerson, QC, counsel for Mr Makhlulif, told the court a trial in the US would be a "flagrant denial of justice".

He said witnesses for Mr Makhlulif would be unprepared to give evidence in the US.

The unprecedented level of publicity in the US would also pose "an irrevocable threat of unfairness" in the case, he said.

Afghan camps

Mr Emmerson said the "intolerable conditions" in which Islamic defendants were held in the US and the possible sentence with no prospect of parole amounted to "inhuman and degrading treatment".

But Andrew Colman, for the US, told the court proceedings there would be subject to all the European Convention of Human Rights' constitutional guarantees for a fair trial.

He acknowledged a problem of "prejudice and hysteria" but said the US was particularly well equipped to deal with it by screening jurors.

Witnesses reluctant to travel could give testify by other means, Mr Colman added.

Terrorist campaigns

American court documents allege Mr Makhlulif was a "key recruiter" who met Algerians in Algeria and Europe who were then sent to training camps in Afghanistan in 1998.

They claim he had discussions with Bin Laden about appropriate targets and methods for any terrorist campaigns.

They also allege that he provided false documents to get terrorist cells back out of Afghanistan.

The court was told Mr Makhlulif had also provided money and support.

He is also suspected of sending others to Canada to prepare for the 11 September attacks.

Mr Makhlulif had been implicated to the US authorities by Ahmed Ressam, who had been arrested with a car containing explosives, the court heard.

The district judge hearing the case reserved judgement but said he expected to deliver his decision on 10 May.