Radical Cleric arrested in Lebanon

A radical Muslim cleric was arrested today at his home in northern Lebanon two days after a military court sentenced him in absentia to life in prison in a terrorism trial, authorities said.

Omar Bakri Mohammed was taken into custody without a struggle in the city of Tripoli, police and security officials said.

Bakri, who holds Syrian and Lebanese citizenship, lived in Britain for 20 years where he headed the now-disbanded radical Islamist group al-Muhajiroun.

He left Britain for Lebanon in 2005 and the British government barred him from returning.

Lebanese officials said he was among 54 people sentenced on Friday in trials of militants who fought deadly clashes with the Lebanese army in 2007.

Bakri was convicted of “belonging to an armed group with the aim of carrying out terrorist acts and plotting to kill Lebanese soldiers”.

Officials said Bakri was sentenced to life because of his failure to show up for his trial. Bakri insisted he never received a summons, claiming the charges were “lies and fabrications”.

He also said his lawyer informed him he had 15 days to turn himself in and appeal against the ruling.