Qatada talks in Jordan 'positive'

Talks aimed at ensuring the UK can deport radical cleric Abu Qatada to face terror charges in Jordan have been "positive", the Home Secretary has said.

Theresa May, who is in Jordan for talks with senior government officials until Wednesday, said the Government has more work to do to ensure Qatada can be sent home "once and for all".

Speaking from Jordan, she said she wanted to send Qatada back and bring the situation "to a satisfactory end soon".

Qatada, who is considered a threat to the UK's national security, has been released from jail under a 22-hour curfew while the Government seeks assurances from Jordan that evidence gained through torture would not be used in any trial against him.

Mrs May has less than three months to show a judge she has made progress in the talks or risk Qatada being freed from his stringent bail conditions.

Qatada was released from Long Lartin high-security jail in Evesham, Worcestershire, on February 13 after applying for bail when human rights judges in Europe ruled he could not be deported without assurances from Jordan that evidence gained through torture would not be used against him.

The Strasbourg-based European Court of Human Rights ruled that sending Qatada, 51, back without such assurances would be a "flagrant denial of justice".

Mrs May said: "We and the Jordanian government will continue to work together to progress this case.

"Jordan has made significant human rights advances, including changes to its constitution. Sadly the court at Strasbourg failed to recognise this.

"Talks today have been positive but we have more work to do in getting the kind of assurances that will allow us to deport Qatada once and for all."