Abu Qatada launches legal bid to ban pictures of him enjoying his freedom - because it 'violates his privacy'

Abu Qatada is to launch a legal-aid funded court bid to prevent the public seeing pictures of him enjoying his freedom.

The man known as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe has instructed lawyers to seek a court order keeping new pictures of him secret.

The move came within hours of him being freed from prison after he won his fight against deportation from Britain.

His release follows a court ruling in April banning ministers from extraditing him to Jordan.

Qatada, of Acton, will claim that any picture of him violates his 'right to privacy' under the Human Rights Act  -  the same act he used to gain his freedom.

The 47-year-old can only leave his house for two hours each day while wearing an electronic tag.

The curfew also bans him from having contact with bin Laden but allows him to live with his family in his Edwardian semidetached home and claim benefits of £1,000 a month.

The eight-page bail order bars Qatada from associating with hook-handed hate preacher Abu Hamza.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has pledged to appeal against the court ruling preventing his deportation, which was on the grounds that he could face torture in Jordan.

Qatada has been convicted in his absence in the Middle East of involvement with terror attacks.

Ms Smith said: 'The Government's priority is to protect public safety and national security and we will take all steps necessary.'

Qatada's legal move  -  which would establish an unprecedented right of 'privacy' if successful - came as it emerged that two other men with alleged terror links - named U and Y in court papers - are also set to be bailed.

Both arrived in Britain to claim asylum and cannot be deported to their native Algeria.