Abu Hamza claims 'mental health deteriorating’ in last ditch bid to block extradition to US

Hamza, who was jailed for seven years for soliciting to murder and inciting racial hatred, has been fighting extradition since 2004.

His lawyers are applying for an injunction delaying his deportation on the grounds of the 53-year-old's medical condition, which they say has deteriorated partially because of sleep deprivation and continued confinement.

Other terrorist suspects Babar Ahmed, Khaled al-Fawwaz and Adel Abdul Bary have also applied for injunctions to halt their deportation. Ahmad, a computer expert, has been held in a UK prison without trial for eight years after being accused of raising funds for terrorism through a website. Fawwaz and Bary are accused of being aides to Osama bin Laden.

Last week, the European court of human rights in Strasbourg rejected further appeals saying that the human rights of the terrorist suspects would not be violated by the prospect of life sentences or solitary confinement in a US prison.

The decision followed an eight-year battle through British and European courts and the Home Office believes this decision has exhausted legal avenues, clearing the way for their deportation.

All are making desperate, last-ditch attempts to oppose the process, however, with supporters of Ahmad and Ahsan calling for them to be prosecuted in this country for their alleged connection to an extremist website. The Director of Public Prosecutons PP has rejected that request on the grounds the much of the evidence was in the possession of the US.

However, on Monday night London Mayor Boris Johnson, put out a statement calling for Ahmad to be put on trial in the UK, saying:

"There is absolutely no reason why this gentleman should not be produced before the British courts, arraigned and asked to answer to whatever his crimes are here in the UK."