London: Two alleged leading conspirators of Osama bin Laden have lost their latest battle to escape extradition from Britain over the 1998 US embassy bombings in east Africa.
Khalid al Fawwaz, a 46-year-old Saudi businessman, and Adel Abdel Bary, an Egyptian, are wanted by the United States over their alleged role in the attacks in Kenya and Tanzania that killed 224 people.
The two men claimed their human rights would be breached if they were sent to a high-security "supermax" prison in Florence, Colorado.
But rejecting their appeal yesterday at the High Court in London, judge Scott Baker said, "Although near to the borderline the prison conditions at ADX Florence, although very harsh, do not amount to inhuman or degrading treatment."
The pair could now attempt to take their case on to Britain`s new Supreme Court, which from October will replace the Law Lords as the country`s highest court of appeal.
Al Fawwaz was living with his wife and three children in London before his arrest on a New York court indictment in Britain in 1999. At the time of his arrest, he was alleged to
be the head of the British cell of al Qaeda.
The latest legal proceedings arose after Al Fawwaz and Abdel Bary were informed in March last year that Britain had issued warrants authorising their return to the United States.
Bureau Report
