Extremists in Syria rebuked by radical preacher

AMMAN, Jordan — A radical preacher deported from Britain who faces terrorism charges in his native Jordan has criticized one of the main extremist groups in Syria, saying it was “ignoring instructions” from al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahri.

The 53-year-old known as Abu Qatada spoke to reporters during a break in his trial before Jordan’s military court.

He said the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant will “disintegrate eventually” and that its fighters were “misled to fight a war that is not holy.”

The group has clashed repeatedly with other rebels since it aggressively pushed into Syria from neighboring Iraq last spring.

Abu Qatada did not refer to another al-Qaeda-allied group in Syria, Jabhat al-Nusra.

Thursday’s hearing, the fourth since the preacher was extradited from Britain last July, was adjourned until February 13.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.