Home secretary: Absolutely sure deadline was correct

Government plans to deport the Muslim cleric Abu Qatada to Jordan to face terrorism charges have hit a setback.

His lawyers are to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, which could mean any hopes of deporting him could be delayed for months.

But the Home Secretary, Theresa May, insists that the appeal is invalid, arguing that Abu Qatada had missed the deadline to object to January's ruling by one day.

She described the appeal as 'delaying tactics' by his lawyers.