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UK peers visit teacher in Sudan UK peers visit teacher in Sudan
(11 minutes later)
Two British Muslim members of the House of Lords have met the British teacher jailed in Sudan for insulting Islam.Two British Muslim members of the House of Lords have met the British teacher jailed in Sudan for insulting Islam.
Labour's Lord Ahmed and the Conservative's Baroness Warsi met Gillian Gibbons at a secret location in Sudan's capital, Khartoum.Labour's Lord Ahmed and the Conservative's Baroness Warsi met Gillian Gibbons at a secret location in Sudan's capital, Khartoum.
They have already met one Sudanese official and there are hopes they will meet the Sudanese president later, although that has not been confirmed.They have already met one Sudanese official and there are hopes they will meet the Sudanese president later, although that has not been confirmed.
Mrs Gibbons's defence team is confident she will be pardoned by the President. Mrs Gibbons' defence team is confident she will be pardoned by the president.
Diplomatic crisis
Mrs Gibbons is being held in secret due to real fears for her safety after crowds of protestors marched in the capital demanding a tougher sentence, some of whom called for the death penalty.Mrs Gibbons is being held in secret due to real fears for her safety after crowds of protestors marched in the capital demanding a tougher sentence, some of whom called for the death penalty.
Sources close to the Sudanese president believe there will be more chance of securing Mrs Gibbons release through a Muslim-led delegation. Analysts believe it would suit the Sudanese government to be seen to be showing mercy Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7122562.stm">UK Sudanese defends teacher
Sources close to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir believe there will be more chance of securing Mrs Gibbons release through a Muslim-led delegation.
Lord Ahmed and Lady Warsi travelled to Khartoum on their own initiative after private negotiation with Sudanese officials.Lord Ahmed and Lady Warsi travelled to Khartoum on their own initiative after private negotiation with Sudanese officials.
On Friday, Lord Ahmed's office told the BBC: "We have it from the top that Sudanese authorities will co-operate in relation to her release."
The Foreign Office has made it clear that the peers' visit is separate to its ongoing efforts to get Mrs Gibbons freed.The Foreign Office has made it clear that the peers' visit is separate to its ongoing efforts to get Mrs Gibbons freed.
On Friday, Lord Ahmed's office told the BBC: "We have it from the top that Sudanese authorities will co-operate in relation to her release."
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the meeting could provide a way out of the diplomatic crisis.
"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.