Lawyers for the US government argued for the extradition of Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri in a hearing before a London court Thursday. Al-Masri is currently serving a seven-year prison sentence  in Britain for urging his followers to kill Jews and other non-Muslims and using "threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior" to stir up racial hatred. Hamza faces US charges of attempting to establish terrorist training camps both in Oregon and in Afghanistan. The hearing, initially scheduled for Wednesday, was postponed to give Hamza time to recover from an operation.

The US called for Hamza's extradition last year, but hearings were delayed pending his appeal of his current conviction in the UK courts. The appeals were dismissed in November. Hamza's lawyers say the extradition warrant should be dismissed because it was issued on evidence obtained by torture.

The documents were backdated to 1999. The false documents attempted to portray the funds as loans in an effort to avoid criminal charges.

Obstruction of justice is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of $250,000.

Under terms of the plea agreement, prosecutors will recommend a 15-month prison term for Laura Cook. Her sentencing date has not been set.

In February, Wade Cook was found guilty of tax evasion, filing false and fraudulent tax returns and obstruction of justice. He is scheduled to be sentenced on June 22nd. The jury could not reach a verdict regarding Laura Cook's criminal conduct.

Nine defendants in the 2004 Madrid train bombings trial indicated in court Wednesday that they have begun a hunger strike, joining four other defendants who initiated the hunger strike last Thursday. The thirteen defendants are among eighteen who remain in custody during the trial, while eleven other defendants have been released on bail. Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez warned the defendants that the trial would not be suspended because of the hunger strike, and if necessary, the defendants would be subjected to forced feedings.

The trial of the 29 suspects began in February in the National Court of Spain. The defendants, are charged with 192 counts of murder and upwards of 1,800 counts of attempted murder. Seven defendants are charged with murder and with having belonged to a terrorist organization, while the remaining twenty-two defendants are being charged with collaborating with a terrorist group and the handling of explosives.

Judge Christopher Burns asked Sanchez about each of the three victims. "I strangled her," he said three times, weeping and barely audible.

Sanchez's wife sobbed as he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in each death. He faces 75 years to life in prison at sentencing Aug. 2.

"It is unimaginable to us that someone we have truly loved and respected for so many years could be capable of such violent acts," his wife, Kathleen Sanchez, and her family said in a statement. "We are sincerely sorry and filled with grief for your tragic losses."

Sanchez admitted killing University at Buffalo student Linda Yalem, who was raped and strangled on a bike path near campus in 1990; Majane Mazur, who was found raped and strangled on a Buffalo street two years later; and Joan Diver, who was strangled along a bike path last fall.

"The case against him in each of the three homicides was overwhelming," Erie County District Attorney Frank Clark said after the pleas.

Defense attorney Andrew LoTempio said Sanchez wanted to spare his family from a trial and decided to plead guilty after reviewing the DNA evidence against him.

Clark said investigators have tied Sanchez to 8 or 9 rapes and suspect him in a dozen more dating back to the late 1970s.