One of Ours

A Muslim cleric who urged his followers to "rejoice in the Madrid bombings" has been booted out of the country.

Yahia Cherif was convicted of "Proselytism in favour of radical Islam" and of having "active relations with a national or international Islamic movement linked to organisations promoting terrorist acts." He was also found guilty of calling for a jihad which would endanger French national security.

Cherif, who preached in Brest, Brittany, was deported to his native Algeria.

France's determination to tackle imans who urge their followers to jihad contrasts sharply with Britain, where several radical clerics preach hatred with impunity. Though scorned by the majority of their community, hardline clerics like Abu Hamza continue to incite violence, despite popular calls for their imprisonment or deportation.

France's action will only increase pressure on Britain to get tough on hatemongering clerics - and could prove to be another headache for Tony Blair and home secretary David Blunkett.