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At trial in Jordan, radical preacher deported from Britain rallies al-Qaida fighters in Syria

Associated Press
Published | Updated

AMMAN, Jordan – A radical preacher deported from Britain who faces terrorism charges in his native Jordan has appealed to al-Qaida fighters in Syria to unite their ranks and end infighting.

The 53-year-old Abu Qatada spoke during a hearing Tuesday before a military court in the Jordanian capital, Amman.

He appealed on the two main al-Qaida factions in Syria — the Nusra Front and the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant — to offer "unequivocal submissiveness" to al-Qaida's chief, Ayman al-Zawahri.

Abu Qatada is on trial for plotting attacks against Israelis, Americans and other Westerners in Jordan in two foiled attempts in 1999 and 2000.

Jordan convicted him in absentia and sentenced to life in prison. But following his deportation home in July, he has to be retried under Jordanian law.