Spain approves extradition of suspected bin Laden associate

Spain yesterday approved the extradition to France of an Algerian suspected of plotting to bomb the European Parliament in Strasbourg…

Spain yesterday approved the extradition to France of an Algerian suspected of plotting to bomb the European Parliament in Strasbourg under orders from the Saudi billionaire, Mr Osama bin Laden, a legal source said.

Spain's highest penal court accepted an international extradition warrant issued by a French judge after the suspect, Mr Mohammad Bensakhria, agreed earlier yesterday to be transferred to France.

Mr Bensakhria, 34, was arrested on Friday in Alicante, south-east Spain. Mr bin Laden is on the American FBI's 10-most-wanted list for the bombing of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, which killed 224 people.