Fax link to US embassy bombs, hearing told

FINGERPRINT EVIDENCE links two men arrested in London with the bombing of two US embassies in Africa, allegedly masterminded by the international terrorist suspect Osama bin Laden, a court was told yesterday.

An extradition hearing was told that the fingerprints of Ibrahim Hussein Eidarous, 42, and Adel Mohanned Abdul Bary, 39, were found on faxes claiming responsibility for the bombings. The men, Egyptian nationals, were arrested on Saturday on a US extradition warrant.

Bow Street magistrates were told by Arvinder Sambi, of the Crown Prosecution Service, acting on behalf of the US government that the men conspired with Mr bin Laden to murder citizens of the US. More than 220 people died and hundreds were injured when bombs destroyed the embassies in Kenya and Tanzania last August.

MrEidarous's lawyer, Gareth Peirce, said that her client - who was only released by British immigration officers on Friday after a 10- month detention - was the subject of a "Kafkaesque" abuse of power by the US.

The court was told that both men live in London. Mr Eidarous lives with his wife and six children. Mr Bary's wife is expecting their sixth child. Mr Eidarous was described as a former army officer and Mr Bary as a lawyer who helps fellow Egyptian dissidents. Both men left their homeland after allegedly being harassed by the authorities.

Presiding magistrate Graham Parkinson said he was concerned enough by the lawyers' claims to order the men be remanded for just one week, rather than the month requested by the prosecution.

Mr bin Laden has been placed on the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 10 Most Wanted List. He has denied any role in the attacks against Americans.