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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| UK peers in bid to free teacher | UK peers in bid to free teacher |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two British Muslim members of the House of Lords have arrived in Sudan to push for the release of a British teacher imprisoned for insulting religion. | Two British Muslim members of the House of Lords have arrived in Sudan to push for the release of a British teacher imprisoned for insulting religion. |
| Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed after her class was allowed to name a teddy bear Muhammad. | Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, was jailed after her class was allowed to name a teddy bear Muhammad. |
| Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi are expected to meet Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the chief justice. | Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi are expected to meet Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and the chief justice. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the meeting could provide a way out of the diplomatic crisis. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the meeting could provide a way out of the diplomatic crisis. |
| Private negotiation | Private negotiation |
| Labour's Lord Ahmed and Conservative shadow minister Lady Warsi travelled to the capital Khartoum on their own initiative. | |
| Lord Ahmed has been in private negotiation with Sudanese officials this week, in a separate initiative to the British government's efforts. | Lord Ahmed has been in private negotiation with Sudanese officials this week, in a separate initiative to the British government's efforts. |
| Baroness Warsi is a Conservative shadow minister | Baroness Warsi is a Conservative shadow minister |
| His office told the BBC: "We have it from the top that Sudanese authorities will co-operate in relation to her release." | His office told the BBC: "We have it from the top that Sudanese authorities will co-operate in relation to her release." |
| Our correspondent said the Muslim delegation is expecting to meet the president on Saturday and return to the UK by Monday, hopefully with Mrs Gibbons. | Our correspondent said the Muslim delegation is expecting to meet the president on Saturday and return to the UK by Monday, hopefully with Mrs Gibbons. |
| "Analysts believe it would suit the Sudanese government to be seen to be showing mercy in handing her over to a Muslim delegation, instead of appearing to 'give in' to their former colonial masters, the British government," Mr Gardner said. | "Analysts believe it would suit the Sudanese government to be seen to be showing mercy in handing her over to a Muslim delegation, instead of appearing to 'give in' to their former colonial masters, the British government," Mr Gardner said. |
| 'Swift resolution' | 'Swift resolution' |
| Meanwhile, Mrs Gibbons' son has said his mother does not want the situation to spark "resentment" towards Muslims. | Meanwhile, Mrs Gibbons' son has said his mother does not want the situation to spark "resentment" towards Muslims. |
| John Gibbons, 27, from Liverpool, said she was "holding up quite well". | John Gibbons, 27, from Liverpool, said she was "holding up quite well". |
| He told The Associated Press on Friday: "One of the things my mum said today was that 'I don't want any resentment towards Muslim people'. | He told The Associated Press on Friday: "One of the things my mum said today was that 'I don't want any resentment towards Muslim people'. |
| "She doesn't want people using her and her case as something to stoke up resentment towards anyone, towards Sudanese people, towards Muslim people or whatever. | "She doesn't want people using her and her case as something to stoke up resentment towards anyone, towards Sudanese people, towards Muslim people or whatever. |
| We have it from the top that Sudanese authorities will cooperate in relation to her release Lord Ahmed's office Reaction to verdict Sudan's 'harsh' prisons | We have it from the top that Sudanese authorities will cooperate in relation to her release Lord Ahmed's office Reaction to verdict Sudan's 'harsh' prisons |
| "You know, that's not the type of person she is, that's not what she wants." | "You know, that's not the type of person she is, that's not what she wants." |
| He added she was in good spirits and did not seem too distressed. | He added she was in good spirits and did not seem too distressed. |
| "She's holding up quite well. It was nice obviously to speak to her and hopefully we will be able to speak again," he said. "It's made me feel a hell of a lot better." | "She's holding up quite well. It was nice obviously to speak to her and hopefully we will be able to speak again," he said. "It's made me feel a hell of a lot better." |
| Crowds of people marched in Khartoum on Friday to call for a tougher sentence for Mrs Gibbons. | Crowds of people marched in Khartoum on Friday to call for a tougher sentence for Mrs Gibbons. |
| The Foreign Office said Mrs Gibbons had been visited again by consular staff on Friday and that she was "well", but it could not confirm where she was being held. | The Foreign Office said Mrs Gibbons had been visited again by consular staff on Friday and that she was "well", but it could not confirm where she was being held. |
| Mrs Gibbons allowed her class to name the teddy bear Muhammad Using the Prophet's name Respecting feelings abroad Bloggers condemn Sudan | Mrs Gibbons allowed her class to name the teddy bear Muhammad Using the Prophet's name Respecting feelings abroad Bloggers condemn Sudan |
| A spokeswoman said: "We are pursuing diplomatic contacts with the Sudanese government, we are continuing to do so and will throughout the weekend both in London and Khartoum. | A spokeswoman said: "We are pursuing diplomatic contacts with the Sudanese government, we are continuing to do so and will throughout the weekend both in London and Khartoum. |
| "We are continuing to search for a swift resolution of this issue." | "We are continuing to search for a swift resolution of this issue." |
| Some reports said protesters had called for her to be shot. Her lawyer said she was later moved for her own safety. | Some reports said protesters had called for her to be shot. Her lawyer said she was later moved for her own safety. |
| In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad as part of a study of animals and their habitats. | In September, Mrs Gibbons allowed her class of primary school pupils to name the teddy bear Muhammad as part of a study of animals and their habitats. |
| The court heard that she was arrested last Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education. | The court heard that she was arrested last Sunday after another member of staff at Unity High School complained to the Ministry of Education. |