Preacher Abu Qatada freed from jail

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The 47-year-old was released after he won his fight against deportation from Britain.

Qatada was driven out of the prison at speed in a silver Peugeot people-carrier. He was hidden from view under a blanket on the back seat. His release follows a court ruling in April banning ministers from extraditing him to Jordan.

He has been convicted in his absence in the Middle East of involvement with terror attacks in 1998, and of plotting to plant bombs on the Millennium.

Ministers have pledged to appeal against the ruling. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said: "I am extremely disappointed that the courts have granted Abu Qatada bail, albeit with very strict conditions.

"I am appealing to the House of Lords to reverse the decision that it is not safe to deport Qatada and the other Jordanian cases."

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said: "This man should be deported if possible. His presence is offensive. Failing deportation, he should be prosecuted."

Qatada will be subject to a 22-hour curfew and forced to wear an electronic tag, according to papers released by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac).

The eight-page bail order specifies that Qatada will be barred from associating with certain people, including Osama bin Laden and hate preacher Abu Hamza.

The list of Qatada's banned associates also includes bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri and Rachid Ramda, who has been convicted in France of masterminding a series of bombings in 1995.