Two Egyptian nationals appeared in a London magistrates court following a U.S. request for their extradition to face charges related to last year's bombing of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Ibrahim Hussein Eidarous, 42, and Adil Muhammad Abdul al-Majid Bari, 39, were both arrested in London on Sunday on U.S. extradition warrants and were remanded in custody after appearing at the Bow Street magistrates court.

The men are suspected of links with Saudi militant Osama bin Laden, who claimed responsibility for the attacks that killed 220 people and wounded another 4,000 others.

Bin Laden, who lives in Afghanistan, was recently added to the FBI's ``10 most wanted'' list, with a $5 million reward.

Arvinder Sambi, appearing for Britain's Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of the U.S. Justice Department, said the two men's fingerprints were found on faxed letters that claimed responsibility for the bombings. She said Eidarous and Bari conspired with bin Laden to murder American citizens in revenge for allied action in Iraq.

Sambi told the court that police found copies of the faxes at the offices of The Advice and Reform Council, allegedly a front for the terrorist organization Al Qade (Arabic for The Leadership) in west Kilburn, London.

Eidarous was described as a former army officer and Bari as a lawyer who now helps fellow Egyptian dissidents. Both men maintain they were forced to leave Egypt after being harassed by the authorities.

In Washington, the White House is welcoming the arrest. Spokesman Joe Lockhart said the United States will remain vigilant to the threat posed by bin Laden. ``We will continue to pursue those responsible until they are all brought to justice,'' said Lockhart.

A 1976 Anglo-American Extradition Treaty gives U.S. authorities 60 days from the time of arrest to apply for Eidarous and Bari to be handed over to American jurisdiction. U.S. justice authorities oppose bail for the men.

U.S. investigators are already holding five people in connection with the bombings and contacts with Afghan Taliban authorities for the extradition of bin Laden are continuing.

The Clinton administration imposed trade and financial sanctions against Afghanistan, but officials also indicated they will negotiate with the Taliban authorities to secure bin Laden's extradition.

After the bombing of the two embassies, the U.S. launched cruise missile attacks in Afghanistan and Sudan against targets allegedly connected to the Saudi dissident.

The United States is also seeking the extradition of another Saudi national, Khaled Al Fawwaz, from Britain in connection with the bombings. A British court will hear the U.S. request in September.

Two Egyptian nationals appeared in a London court Monday in connection with the bombings last year of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.

Ibrahim Hussein Abdel Hadi Eidarous, 42, and Adil Muhammad Abdul al-Majid Bari, 39, were both arrested here Sunday on US extradition warrants alleging they had conspired with Osama bin Laden to murder American citizens.

Eidarous and Bari were remanded in custody for a week.

Bin Laden, a Saudi-born millionaire, is the alleged mastermind behind the bombings of the embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam on August 7, 1998, which killed a total of 224 people.

Arvinder Sambi, appearing in court for Britain's Crown Prosecution Service on behalf of the US government, said the two men's fingerprints were found on faxes claiming responsibility for the attacks.

Copies of the faxes were later discovered at the offices of The Advice and Reform Council, allegedly a cover name for the terror organisation Al Qade -- Arabic for The Leadership -- in northwest London.

Last week, Eidarous was one of four Egyptian asylum-seekers who won a long battle to remain in Britain rather than be sent back to Egypt where they said they would be tortured and possibly killed.

They had been held in prison for nine months under immigration legislation after initially being arrested in London under anti-terrorism laws.

Sambi had asked for the teo men remanded in custody for 28 days, but the chief magistrate would allow only a week, saying he wanted more information from US authorities about the evidence against them.

He also said he was concerned by claims from Eidarous's lawyer that he was the subject of a "Kafkaesque" abuse of power by the United States.

Eidarous was described as a former army officer, and Bari as a lawyer who now helps fellow Egyptian dissidents.

Sheikh Omar Bakri Mohammed, who heads the London-based Islamic movement Al Mujahiroun, denounced the arrest of Eidarous and Bari, saying they "cannot be accused of anything whatsoever."

He said bin Laden "represents the struggle of justice against evil".

Bakri, an associate of Abu Hamza, a fundamentalist Moslem cleric wanted by Yemeni authorities for terrorist offences, also protested against the British anti-terrorist legislation which, he claimed, singled out Moslems.

"I do not want to see any confrontation," he added, "but if they (Britain) keep this terrorist policy, Moslems have a right to defend themselves."