A RADICAL Muslim cleric, who lived in east London before being jailed for soliciting murder and inciting racial hatred, could be free in weeks.

Sheikh Abdullah el-Faisal was sent to prison for nine years, reduced to seven on appeal, in February 2003 and is eligible for parole having served half his sentence.

In the Government's official account of the July 7 bombings, Jamaican-born el-Faisal is said to have had a strong influence on Jermaine Lindsay, 19, who blew himself up on a Tube Train at Kings Cross, killing 26 people.

Jurors at his 2003 trial heard recordings of el-Faisal praising Osama bin Laden and encouraging the killing of Jews, as well as advocating the use of chemical weapons to "exterminate non-believers".

One tape entitled Jihad contained the words: "So you go to India and if you see a Hindu walking down the road you are allowed to kill him and take his money, is that clear?"

Deportation

The Home Office has now reportedly served el-Faisal with a notice of deportation to Jamaica, suggesting he will be released shortly.

A Home Office spokeswoman refused to comment on an individual case, but the Jamaican Government are said to be moving to verify el-Faisal's nationality.

Hundreds of Muslims attended his lectures across the country, including in London, Birmingham and Dewsbury, West Yorkshire.

During recordings he can be heard saying: "You have to learn how to shoot and fly planes and drive tanks."

Toy guns

El-Faisal, who lived in Stratford, also encouraged Muslim women to buy toy guns for their children to prepare for Jihad.

Videos of his lectures were found circulating among Muslims in High Wycombe during the investigation into an alleged plot to blow up aeroplanes, according to The Observer.

During el-Faisal's trial defence lawyer Jerome Lynch QC said: "This was a man who although misguided, was not malicious."

He said he had helped young people including drug addicts in inner cities.

But prosecutor David Perry called him a "fanatic and extremist".

Following el-Faisal's conviction, the head of the Metropolitan Police's anti-terror squad, Peter Clarke, said the case "had nothing to do with freedom of speech, but everything to do with racial hatred".