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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| UK 'plot' terror charge dropped | UK 'plot' terror charge dropped |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| A Pakistani judge has ruled there is not enough evidence to try a key suspect in an alleged airline bomb plot on terrorism charges. | A Pakistani judge has ruled there is not enough evidence to try a key suspect in an alleged airline bomb plot on terrorism charges. |
| He has moved the case of Rashid Rauf, a Briton, from an anti-terrorism court to a regular court, where he faces lesser charges such as forgery. | He has moved the case of Rashid Rauf, a Briton, from an anti-terrorism court to a regular court, where he faces lesser charges such as forgery. |
| Pakistan has presented Mr Rauf as one of the ringleaders behind the alleged plan to blow up flights out of London. | Pakistan has presented Mr Rauf as one of the ringleaders behind the alleged plan to blow up flights out of London. |
| The British authorities say they foiled it with Pakistan's help in August. | The British authorities say they foiled it with Pakistan's help in August. |
| They say proceedings against suspects arrested in Britain will go ahead. | They say proceedings against suspects arrested in Britain will go ahead. |
| 'Explosives' | 'Explosives' |
| The arrest of Rashid Rauf in Pakistan triggered arrests in the United Kingdom of a number of suspects allegedly plotting to blow up transatlantic flights. | The arrest of Rashid Rauf in Pakistan triggered arrests in the United Kingdom of a number of suspects allegedly plotting to blow up transatlantic flights. |
| The Pakistani authorities described him as a key figure. | The Pakistani authorities described him as a key figure. |
| But an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi found no evidence that he had been involved in terrorist activities or that he belonged to a terrorist organisation. | But an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi found no evidence that he had been involved in terrorist activities or that he belonged to a terrorist organisation. |
| As well as forgery charges, Mr Rauf has also been charged with carrying explosives. | As well as forgery charges, Mr Rauf has also been charged with carrying explosives. |
| But his lawyer says police evidence amounts only to bottles of hydrogen peroxide found in his possession. | But his lawyer says police evidence amounts only to bottles of hydrogen peroxide found in his possession. |
| Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant that can be used for bomb-making if other chemicals are added. | Hydrogen peroxide is a disinfectant that can be used for bomb-making if other chemicals are added. |
| The BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad says the judge's decision has reinforced the already widespread scepticism there about the airliner plot. | |
| Several commentators said the threat was deliberately exaggerated to bolster the anti-terror credentials of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and that it helped to demonise British Muslims of Pakistani origin. | |
| The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK said the dropping of charges against Mr Rauf in Pakistan would "make no difference" to the case against the men charged in Britain. | The Crown Prosecution Service in the UK said the dropping of charges against Mr Rauf in Pakistan would "make no difference" to the case against the men charged in Britain. |
| 'Suspected conspiracy' | 'Suspected conspiracy' |
| In August, the British government requested the extradition of Mr Rauf, a Briton of Pakistani origin who returned to Pakistan four years ago, in connection with a 2002 murder. | In August, the British government requested the extradition of Mr Rauf, a Briton of Pakistani origin who returned to Pakistan four years ago, in connection with a 2002 murder. |
| Scotland Yard declined to discuss which murder case the request related to. | Scotland Yard declined to discuss which murder case the request related to. |
| The government in Pakistan, which has no extradition treaty with the UK, said it was considering the request. | The government in Pakistan, which has no extradition treaty with the UK, said it was considering the request. |
| Rashid Rauf was arrested in Pakistan earlier that month over the alleged plot to blow up US-bound aircraft, Pakistan's foreign ministry said. | Rashid Rauf was arrested in Pakistan earlier that month over the alleged plot to blow up US-bound aircraft, Pakistan's foreign ministry said. |
| He has been described by Pakistan's government as a "key person" in the "suspected conspiracy". | He has been described by Pakistan's government as a "key person" in the "suspected conspiracy". |
| The August arrests led to increased airport security around the world, causing major disruption. | The August arrests led to increased airport security around the world, causing major disruption. |
| Passengers on many flights were forbidden to take liquids aboard aircraft. | Passengers on many flights were forbidden to take liquids aboard aircraft. |