July 12, 1999
Web posted at: 2:58 p.m. EDT (1858 GMT)

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LONDON (CNN) -- Two men, arrested in connection with last summer's bombings of the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, appeared in a London court Monday on a extradition warrant from the United States. Charges were read accusing them of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens.

Ibrahim Hussein Abdel Hadi Eidarous, 42, and Adel Mohanned Abdul Almagid Bary, 39, were arrested Sunday on warrants issued by a U.S. District Court in New York, Scotland Yard officials said.

They are suspected of being involved with Osama Bin Laden, the man the United States believes was behind the East African bombings last August 7. More than 200 people were killed and another 4,000 wounded in the blasts.

Prosecutor Arvinder Sambi, appearing in court on behalf of the United States, said that fingerprints found on faxes linked the two men to the nearly simultaneous bombings.

"Mr. Eidarous's fingerprints were found on the claims of responsibility and were found prior to the bombings," Sambi said. "Mr. Bary's fingerprints were on the fax that was sent."

The faxes were found at the offices of The Advice and Reform Council, reputedly a front for the terrorist organization Al Qade (The Leadership) in London.

Both men were ordered held in custody pending another court appearance next week.

Court documents said Bary is Egyptian. The nationality of Eidarous was not specified. Both men were being held in the top-security Belmarsh prison in London pending extradition proceedings against them.

White House press secretary Joe Lockhart said, "We welcome the arrest, we continue to remain vigilant and concerned about the threat Osama Bin Laden and his network poses to Americans and American Institutions around the world and will continue to pursue those responsible until they're all brought to justice."

Bin Laden and six other suspects in the bombing remain at large. Five defendants are being held in New York on conspiracy charges stemming from the bombings.

Another suspect is fighting extradition to the United States from Britain.

Bin Laden has denied any involvement in the bombings, but has said in the past that Americans were legitimate targets for Islamic attacks.

Correspondent Carl Rochelle contributed to this report.

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