MADRID (AP) — Spain's government has approved the extradition to the United States of an Algerian-Irish man accused of recruiting an American woman who called herself "Jihad Jane" and plotted to kill a Swedish artist.

Ali Charaf Damache has been in detention since his Dec. 11 arrest in Barcelona based on a U.S.-issued warrant stating he was suspected of recruiting to form cells for al-Qaida and the extremist group Islamic Maghreb.

The U.S. Justice Department says Damache recruited Colleen LaRose in 2009 while both lived in Ireland.

The Michigan-born LaRose, 53, used the online nickname "Jihad Jane" and was convicted of agreeing to kill Swedish artist Lars Vilks, whose drawings depicting the prophet Muhammad offended Muslims. She was sentenced last year to 10 years in prison.

Spain's cabinet approved the extradition on Friday.