Terror suspects remanded in custody

Lotfi Raissi denies any involvement in the attacks

Three Algerian men suspected of being terrorists with links to Osama Bin Laden have been remanded in custody by a British court.

Lotfi Raissi, Mustapha Labsi and Amar Makhlulif all appeared at Belmarsh magistrates court in south-east London as part of extradition hearings.

They were all remanded in custody pending further appearances on 27 November.

Mr Raissi, a pilot, is wanted by the US Government for alleged involvement in the 11 September terrorist attacks.

It accuses him of being the "lead instructor" for four of the hijackers, including the pilot of the plane which crashed into the Pentagon.

All three men were remanding in extradition hearings

So far Mr Raissi has only been charged with perjury - for making a false statement on a US Federal Aviation Authority application - but US prosecutors have made it clear these are only "holding charges".

Mr Raissi, who was living in Colnbrook in Berkshire when he was arrested, yawned and waved to his family after his five-minute appearance.

Defence solicitor Hugo Keith made no application for bail, but called on the British and US Governments to make their case soon.

French plot

Mustapha Labsi, 32, of Wood Green in north London, is wanted by the French Government for involvement in a bomb plot centred on the G7 summit in Lille five years ago.

He faces three draft charges which include conspiring to use false passports for the "commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism", and conspiring to cause explosions.

His barrister Ben Emmerson QC made no application for bail, but the case was adjourned pending a possible abuse of process application.

Airport conspiracy

Amar Makhlulif, 37, also known by the surname Boha and as "the doctor", has been named by US prosecutors as a leading figure in Bin Laden's terror network.

He is charged with conspiracy to cause explosions. Prosecutors say he was involved in an alleged plot to blow up an airport in Los Angeles over the Millennium.

He is accused of helping terrorists travel to bin Laden's training camps in Afghanistan and of sending others to Canada to prepare for the attack.

His case was adjourned on the same basis as that of Mr Labsi.