LONDON, July 23 (AFP) - Abu Hamza al-Masri, the fiery Islamic cleric wanted by the United States on charges of terrorism, is a member of a "global conspiracy" to wage an Islamic holy war against the West, the start of his extradition trial in London was told Friday.
Egyptian-born Hamza, 46, facing extradition to the United States on 11 terrorism-related charges, had his hearing at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court later adjourned until October 19.
"Abu Hamza is a member of a global conspiracy to wage jihad against the United States and other countries," lawyer James Lewis, representing the United States government, told the court Friday.
"He has consistently advocated hatred and violence against the United States of America, which he called the United Snakes of America."
Lewis said the global network of conspiracy included, but was not limited to, England, Pakistan, Yemen, Afghanistan and the United States.
Hamza, appearing without his distinctive steel hooked hand apparently for reasons of security, has been behind bars at London's high-security Belmarsh prison since his arrest in May on suspicion of carrying out a key role in Osama bin Laden's Al-Qaeda network.
Some of the allegations against Hamza relate to a hostage-taking incident in Yemen in 1998 in which three Britons were killed.
Hamza is accused also of trying to set up a terror training camp in the US state of Oregon.
In court, Lewis read a sworn affidavit from FBI special agent Michael S Butsch, who is heading US investigation into Hamza.
Butsch said in the statement that Hamza had supported the October 2000 bombing of the US destroyer Cole and had told his followers that "fighting is a duty for all Muslims".
The statement outlined the kidnapping of 16 westerners in Yemen in December 1998 for which Hamza's stepson was arrested.
Hamza is alleged to have given a satellite phone to the hostage takers and to have offered to act as an intermediary for them.
On the day before the hostages were taken, there were three calls between the satellite phone and Hamza's home, it is alleged.
Hamza gained notoriety in Britain after praising Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda and calling for jihad in sermons at a mosque in Finsbury Park, north London, that has since been closed.
He has always denied involvement in terrorism.
For Britain to allow the extradition, US authorities must pledge that Hamza will not face the death penalty -- or if he is sentenced to death, that the sentence will not be carried out.
Hamza's lawyer Ed Fitzgerald claimed in court Friday that the cleric was protected under British law even from extradition.
"He would not receive a fair trial (in the United States) because there is every likelihood that evidence gathered in circumstances that violate his human rights would be used," Fitzgerald said.