Terrorism suspect Harkat released on bail

Mohamed Harkat, the Algerianterrorism suspectwho spent more than three years in a Canadian prison without ever being charged, was released on bail Wednesday afternoon.

In December 2002, Canadian authorities arrested the Ottawa man on a security certificate that cited his alleged ties with terrorists.

The Canadian Security Intelligence Service accused him of being an al-Qaeda "sleeper agent," and alleged that Harkat trained under Osama bin Laden's top lieutenants in Afghanistan.

He has denied the allegations.

Harkat is one of several men detained under security certificates, which allow the federal government to hold people indefinitely, without charge, if it suspects them of posing a threat to national security.

Henow wears an electronic monitoring device that will keep track of his movements.

Among Harkat's other bail conditions:

• He is prohibited from using cellphones or wireless devices such as BlackBerrys.
• His home is subject to a search by authorities without a warrant.
• He is barred from going to an airport or to a bus or train station.

One of Harkat's lawyers says the strict bail conditions leave no reasons to keep Harkat in prison.

"How can [the government]possibly argue that whatever threat may or may not be posed by the person is not neutralized by such a bail [conditions]?" said Matthew Webber.

Harkat's next court date is expected to be later this summer, when a federal court will rule on whether he can remain on bail until the government decides whether to deport him.