Paul was also charged with directing dissident republican terrorism.

One of the men is Michael McKevitt, the leader of the group, who was sentenced in Dublin this week to 20 years for directing terrorism.

A 30-year-old man will appear in court Friday charged with directing terrorism and membership of the outlawed loyalist Ulster Freedom Fighters, police said.

McKevitt was arrested on 29 March 2001 and charged with membership of an illegal organisation and directing terrorism, and remanded into custody.

After a two-month trial, McKevitt was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment in August 2003 after being convicted of directing terrorism.

Mr. McKevitt, 53, was found guilty of directing terrorism, a new crime introduced by Ireland's Parliament after the bombing.

He said the Unionist Party had long advocated "selective internment," under which "the godfathers on both sides, clearly identified as directing terrorism," would be held.

Mr. Adair, 34, had served five years of a 16-year term for "directing terrorism."

He is now behind bars, awaiting trial on a charge of "directing terrorism" under new anti-terrorist legislation.

Such a finding of guilt meant that Ahmed was the first member of al-Qaeda to be convicted for directing terrorism in the UK.