US hands over Egyptian militant

Militants opposed the 1979 peace deal with Israel

The United States has handed over to Egypt an Egyptian man convicted in his absence in 1982 during a crackdown on militant Islamists following the assassination of former President Anwar Sadat.

In a statement, the US embassy in Cairo said: "Nabil Soliman, the man convicted in absentia by an Egyptian court of participation in the assassination of President Anwar Sadat, was removed from the United States to Egypt on 12 June 2002."

Soliman's removal is another example of the close US-Egyptian co-operation in the war against terror

US Ambassador to Egypt David Welch

However, a leading Islamist lawyer, Muntasir al-Zayat, has told the BBC that Mr Soliman was no in fact convicted of participation in the assassination of Sadat, but of being an Islamic Jihad member in mass trials that followed Sadat's killing.

Mr Zayat was himself a defendant in these mass trials.

Mr Soliman was taken into custody by Egyptian authorities upon arrival at Cairo airport. He had been in the US since 1992.

His extradition, the statement said, "follows the conclusion of appropriate legal proceedings concerning Soliman, who was removed for being in the United States illegally".

The AFP news agency has reported that Egyptian security officials believe Mr Soliman was a member of the Islamic Jihad group in Egypt - an organisation that is believed to have close links to Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda organisation.

Scourge

"Soliman's removal, coming after successful bilateral discussions, is another example of the close US-Egyptian co-operation in the war against terror," US Ambassador David Welch said.

Zawahiri, the Egyptian Islamic Jihad leader, is believed to be a close associate of Bin Laden

It demonstrates, Mr Welch said, "the American commitment to working closely with our friends and allies to eradicate this scourge".

Anwar Sadat was assassinated in October 1981 at a military parade by army soldier and Islamic Jihad militant Khaled al-Istambuli, who was executed in 1982.

His assassins opposed Sadat's peace agreement with Israel.

Attacking government

Egyptian Islamic Jihad has existed since the late 1970s.

Its primary aim is the overthrow of the Egyptian Government and its replacement by an Islamic regime.

The organisation is currently led by Ayman al-Zawahiri, believed to be a close associate of Osama Bin Laden.

Some analysts believe Zawahiri was actually the main organiser behind the 11 September attacks on the US.

He is also wanted in the US, along with Bin Laden, in connection with the US embassy bombings in east Africa.

Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who has been convicted of conspiracy relating to the February 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center, is the spiritual leader of the group.

The group specialises in armed attacks against Egyptian Government personnel and official Egyptian and US facilities.