"It was ruled the plaintiff represents a national security threat which makes his extradition necessary," according to a copy of the verdict obtained by AFP.

The decision to expel Krekar would however not be implemented immediately, the court added.

The court also ordered Krekar to pay 290,000 Norwegian kroner (45,300 dollars, 35,160 euros) in legal costs.

Wednesday's ruling was the second to reject Krekar's claim that a 2003 expulsion order was invalid.

Norwegian authorities decided in February 2003 to expel Krekar claiming he was a national security concern, but his deportation was suspended until the situation in Iraq improves and pending his appeal.

"The ruling will not be enforced for the time being as the situation in Iraq is of such a nature that he, due to Norway's obligations under international law, cannot be sent back there," the court said in its verdict.

The court ruled that "reasons exist to fear that the plaintiff has links with terrorist activities and groups."

Krekar, whose real name is Fateh Najmeddin Faraj, has lived in Norway as a refugee since 1991, and has been under threat of deportation since Norwegian media revealed he was the founder of the radical Islamist group Ansar al-Islam, included on the United States' list of terrorist organisations.

The Iraqi Kurd admits that he founded the group but insists he no longer heads it.

Krekar has said his life would be in danger if he returns to Iraq.

In June he praised Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who was killed two weeks earlier.

"Osama bin Laden is a good man. I wish him a long life. He is a good Muslim and he is against the Bush administration," Krekar, known for his controversial statements, told AFP in Oslo.