Zambia extradites terror suspect to UK

A British al Qaida suspect has been extradited to the UK from Zambia, it was reported today.

Haroon Rashid Aswat, 30, was arrested in Lusaka, Zambia, on July 20 and questioned in connection with possible links to the London bombers.

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said earlier this month that he was to be deported to the UK.

A Foreign office spokeswoman today declined to comment on reports that he had now been extradited but stopped short of denying the reports.

A senior Zambian official later confirmed that Aswat had now been deported, AP reported. Zambian Home Affairs Secretary Peter Mumba said that the UK had sent a plane to collect Aswat.

It is understood that he boarded the plane at 9am (7am Irish time).

Aswat is understood to have been interrogated by both British and American agents. He is wanted by the US authorities for allegedly trying to set up a terrorist training camp in the 1990s