Abu Qatada released from British jail

LONDON: Abu Qatada, once described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, was released from a British prison Monday on extremely tight bail conditions.

Qatada, who is fighting extradition to Jordan, was released from Long Lartin high-security jail in Worcestershire, central England, and will have to obey a 22-hour-a-day curfew at his home in London.

The 51-year-old is considered a serious risk to Britain's national security and has spent most of the last six years in jail without charge during London's bid to deport him.

He left prison around 9:15pm (2115 GMT) in the back seat of a van. He was seen holding a hand to his face.

Ahead of his release, the Home Office interior ministry said it would "exhaust all avenues" to ensure his extradition to Jordan, where he was convicted in his absence of involvement in terror attacks in 1998. (AFP)