A doctor accused of giving "spiritual and practical guidance" to terrorists who carried out attacks in Glasgow and London claimed yesterday he was criticised for concentrating on his medical work and not on the afterlife.

Dr Mohammad Asha, 28, was part of a British-based terror cell with fellow medic Dr Bilal Abdulla, 29, and engineer Kafeel Ahmed, it is alleged.

Dr Abdulla and Ahmed, 28, parked two car bombs in London's West End and drove a Jeep Cherokee laden with gas, petrol and nails to Glasgow airport the next day, Woolwich Crown Court has been told.

But Dr Asha, who denies being part of a conspiracy with the other men and says he dreamt of becoming a neurosurgeon, told jurors he was criticised by his friends.

He told the court: "Bilal snapped at me that you are so obsessed with your job and life - you have already got one job interview, you should be grateful. Look what's happening, people are dying there (Iraq). You don't have consideration for anyone. You are too concerned with this life, you have no consideration for the hereafter, your next life'."

Dr Asha added: "He spoke of the insurgents and spoke of the bravery and heroism of them in Iraq.

"It was his belief that Muslims in non-Muslim lands should leave and go where they are needed, like Iraq, where they can support people and stop the oppression.

"He said they are doing what yourself and others should be doing, not staying in this country for yourselves'.

"I never allowed him to go on further. I said: This is my life, I'm going to live it like I wish'."

Ahmed had told him that he had arrived in the UK to carry out some work on his PhD project and would be staying with Dr Abdulla in Scotland, the court heard.

Dr Asha added: "I referred to Kafeel and said You're a loser Bilal, that's why you are always criticising me'.

"I said, Look at this guy Kafeel, he is travelling thousands of miles for his PhD project. He is just like me'. But Kafeel smiled and said: Bro, you are deluded. If I get the chance to go to Iraq, I will be the first one'."

Dr Abdulla and Ahmed are said to have planted car bombs outside the Tiger Tiger bar in Haymarket, central London, and in nearby Cockspur Street, packed with nails, gas and petrol on June 29 last year.

When they failed to detonate, the two men travelled to Scotland and the next day smashed a Jeep Cherokee in to the terminal entrance of Glasgow Airport in an apparent suicide attack, the court has heard.

Dr Abdulla was arrested at the scene but Ahmed died in hospital from burns sustained in the attack.

Dr Asha, of Sunningdale Grove, Newcastle-under-Lyme, and Dr Abdulla, of the Halls of Residence, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Paisley, deny conspiracy to murder and conspiracy to cause explosions likely to endanger life between January 1 2006 and July 1 2007.

The trial continues.