Disappointment as 'Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe' granted bail

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Ministers will face fresh calls to change their anti-terror strategy today after a preacher once dubbed "Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe" was granted bail.

Abu Qatada, who last month defeated the Government's efforts to deport him to Jordan, will be released from prison within weeks but subjected to a 22-hour curfew.

Among those who helped fund the bail was British former Iraq hostage Norman Kember, whose release the preacher called for in a video filmed in prison.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she was "extremely disappointed" at Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC) decision but that "all steps necessary" would be taken to protect the public.

She is appealing against the decision not to deport him.

But the Tories said the latest blow from the courts had further undermined the Government's approach to oversees suspects and demanded a change.

"The Government should at last answer our calls to focus on prevention and prosecution - for example by allowing the use of intercept evidence in court - rather than just trying to deport these individuals once they are here," shadow home secretary David Davis said.

"They should establish a dedicated UK Border Police to prevent foreign terror suspects from entering the country in the first place."

Qatada has been convicted in his absence in Jordan of involvement with terror attacks in 1998.

The radical cleric once called on British Muslims to martyr themselves, and tapes of his sermons were found in a flat in Germany used by some of the September 11 hijackers.

SIAC had originally dismissed Qatada's appeal against deportation on the grounds that Amman had signed a "memorandum of understanding" with the UK.

The so-called MOUs are designed to give reassurance that countries with poor human rights records will not torture or ill-treat anyone returned to their soil.

But the Court of Appeal concluded that because of the issue of evidence against Qatada obtained by torture in Jordan, SIAC had misdirected itself in law and its decision could not stand.

Ms Smith said: "I am extremely disappointed that the courts have granted Abu Qatada bail, albeit with very strict conditions.

"Public safety is our main priority and we will take all steps necessary to protect the public."

Qatada is currently being held in a specialist unit at Long Lartin in Worcestershire but could be released within weeks, once details of the conditions of his bail are agreed.

Speaking from his London home, Mr Kember conceded that the preacher might not be safe to release.

"But if there's clear evidence why doesn't the Government produce it?

"I don't know that he is safe to walk the streets. I think people need to talk to him more and understand what his position is and why he takes it.

"I always think we are in danger of demonising Islam and I think we have to have a more open discussion about these things. The Government obviously doesn't," he said.

"If you want to keep him in jail you have to have good reasons for doing it otherwise al Qaida have you - if you don't follow your process of justice."

He said he hadn't spoken to Qatada personally but had been contacted by his solicitors. He refused to state how much he had put up.