This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7122790.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK peers visit teacher in Sudan | UK peers visit teacher in Sudan |
| (11 minutes later) | |
| Two British Muslim peers have met the UK teacher jailed for 15 days in Sudan for insulting Islam by allowing her class to name a teddy bear Muhammad. | |
| Labour's Lord Ahmed and Conservative Baroness Warsi met Gillian Gibbons, 54, from Liverpool, 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. | |
| Mrs Gibbons's defence team is confident she will be pardoned by the president. | |
| Diplomatic crisis | 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. |
| The BBC's Amber Henshaw in Khartoum said one visitor to Mrs Gibbons reported that she was being held in comfortable accommodation, although this could not be confirmed. | |
| Analysts believe it would suit the Sudanese government to be seen to be showing mercy Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent UK Sudanese defends teacher | Analysts believe it would suit the Sudanese government to be seen to be showing mercy Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent 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. | Sources close to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir believe there will be more chance of securing Mrs Gibbons release through a Muslim-led delegation. |
| The two members of the House of Lords travelled to Khartoum on their own initiative after private negotiation with Sudanese officials. | |
| 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." | 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. | 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. | "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. |
| Meanwhile, Mrs Gibbons's son has said his mother does not want the situation to spark "resentment" towards Muslims. | |
| Crowds have marched in Khartoum demanding a tougher sentence | |
| John Gibbons, 27, from Liverpool, said she was "holding up quite well". | |
| He told 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. | |
| "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. | |
| "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." | |
| 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 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. | |
| "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. | |
| 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. |