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UK peers visit teacher in Sudan UK peers visit teddy row teacher
(1 day 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.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. Gillian Gibbons, of Liverpool, has also released a statement through her lawyer saying: "I've been well treated."
They have already met one Sudanese official and there are hopes they will meet the Sudanese president later. Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi have already met officials and ministers and are expected to meet the president on Sunday, the BBC's Adam Mynott says.
Mrs Gibbons's defence team is confident she will be pardoned by the president. The peers plan to press their case to have Mrs Gibbons, 54, pardoned.
Diplomatic crisis Labour Lord Ahmed and Conservative Baroness Warsi said Mrs Gibbons was in good spirits during their meeting early Saturday.
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. 'Secure and comfortable'
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. Mrs Gibbons is being held in secret due to fears for her safety after crowds of protesters marched in the capital demanding a tougher sentence, some of whom called for the death penalty.
Analysts believe it would suit the Sudanese government to be seen to be showing mercy Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent UK Sudanese defends teacher Mrs Gibbons allowed her class to name the teddy bear Muhammad class="" href="/1/hi/magazine/7115821.stm">Using the Prophet's name class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7119391.stm">Bloggers condemn Sudan 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. In the statement released through her lawyer to Channel 4 News - Mrs Gibbons's first public comment since her arrest - she said she was well and also thanked Prime Minister Gordon Brown for telephoning her family in the UK to offer his support.
The two members of the House of Lords travelled to Khartoum on their own initiative after private negotiation with Sudanese officials. "I'm fine. I'm well," Mrs Gibbons said.
The Foreign Office has made it clear that the peers' visit is separate to its ongoing efforts to get Mrs Gibbons freed. "I want people to know I've been well treated, and especially that I'm well fed. I've been given so many apples I feel I could set up my own stall. The guards are constantly asking if I have everything I need."
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." After their meetings, Baroness Warsi told the BBC that their mission had "one agenda and that is to secure the early release of Gillian Gibbons and that is the only purpose".
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says the meeting could provide a way out of the diplomatic crisis. Lord Ahmed said the pair relayed their message to Sudanese officials: "What we have done is very much put our case to the ministers and we've said how this is perceived in the west."
"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. The Foreign Office said their officials had also spent an hour and a half with Mrs Gibbons and said she was now being held in a "more comfortable and secure environment".
Meanwhile, Mrs Gibbons's son has said his mother does not want the situation to spark "resentment" towards Muslims. Mrs Gibbons' lawyer told the BBC that he had advised his client not to appeal the verdict or the sentence "for practical and not legal reasons" and she had accepted his advice.
Sources close to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir believe there will be more chance of securing Mrs Gibbons release through a Muslim-led delegation than through the Foreign Office's diplomacy efforts.
'Strong concern'
The Foreign Office has stressed that the visit by the two members of the House of Lords is separate to its ongoing work to get Mrs Gibbons freed.
But it said that it was offering all possible support to the peers, who were accompanied in their meetings by Britain's ambassador to Sudan.
Crowds have marched in Khartoum demanding a tougher sentenceCrowds have marched in Khartoum demanding a tougher sentence
John Gibbons, 27, from Liverpool, said she was "holding up quite well". "We are pleased that they have been able to convey the views of British Muslims and wider British society to the Sudanese authorities," a spokesman said.
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'. Foreign Secretary David Miliband spoke with the acting Sudanese foreign secretary again late on Friday and reiterated Britain's "very strong concern" at Mrs Gibbons's continued detention.
"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. Meanwhile, Mrs Gibbons's son and daughter were able to speak to their mother on the phone on Friday.
"You know, that's not the type of person she is, that's not what she wants." John Gibbons, 27, from Liverpool, told Associated Press his mother was "holding up quite well" and did not want the situation to spark "resentment" towards Muslims or the Sudanese people.
He added she was in good spirits and did not seem too distressed. "You know, that's not the type of person she is, that's not what she wants," he added.
"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.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.