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Peer voices Sudan teacher hopes Peers 'to meet Sudan president'
(about 2 hours later)
A UK Muslim peer has said she hopes for an early resolution to the ordeal of a British teacher in Sudan who has been jailed for insulting religion. Two UK Muslim peers who are in Sudan to lobby for a jailed British teacher to be released will meet the president on Monday, a presidential aide has said.
Baroness Warsi said talks about freeing Gillian Gibbons had "presented hope". Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed have delayed their return to the UK and Lady Warsi said they had "made progress".
Conservative Lady Warsi and Labour peer Lord Ahmed are still hoping to meet President Omar al-Bashir in their bid to have Mrs Gibbons released. But she would not confirm the aide's announcement of a presidential meeting.
The 54-year-old from Liverpool was imprisoned for 15 days after letting her pupils name a teddy bear Muhammad. Gillian Gibbons, 54, of Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days on Thursday for insulting religion by letting her pupils name a teddy bear Muhammad.
Mrs Gibbons still has "warm things" to say about Sudan, Baroness Warsi said after meeting her again on Sunday. 'Delicate times'
She added: "I understand the cultural and religious sensitivities around Islam, but as a woman and a British woman I have huge concerns for Gillian and I just hope that we can carry on presenting the case for Gillian and reach an early resolution. Baroness Warsi, a Conservative peer, travelled to Sudan with Labour's Lord Ahmed on Saturday.
You have got to remember there are other forces in Khartoum as well who feel the sentence was too lenient Louise Ellman MP Opinion divided in SudanYou have got to remember there are other forces in Khartoum as well who feel the sentence was too lenient Louise Ellman MP Opinion divided in Sudan
The pair had planned to return on Monday morning, but Lady Warsi told the BBC that they would remain in the country for a third day of talks.
Presidential aide Mahzoub Faidul said President Omar al-Bashir would meet the British delegation to discuss the case on Monday morning.
Lady Warsi said that while negotiations had been "difficult", there was "a huge amount of goodwill to try and secure an early release" for the teacher.
"There are number of meetings scheduled for tomorrow (Monday), we are not prepared to say who they are with or what will be discussed," she said.
"These are very delicate times and were are trying to be as responsible and restrained as possible."
'Early resolution'
Mrs Gibbons still has "warm things" to say about Sudan, Lady Warsi said after meeting her again on Sunday.
She added: "I understand the cultural and religious sensitivities around Islam, but as a woman and a British woman I have huge concerns for Gillian and I just hope that we can carry on presenting the case for Gillian and reach an early resolution.
Mrs Gibbons allowed her class to name the teddy bear Muhammad UK Sudanese defends teacher 'Islamic guidance needed'
"This is a very important issue, a huge issue, and we must remain optimistic and hopeful that we can resolve it as early as possible.""This is a very important issue, a huge issue, and we must remain optimistic and hopeful that we can resolve it as early as possible."
She added: "They've presented us with hope. Enough for us to carry on having those meetings. She added: "They've presented us with hope. Enough for us to carry on having those meetings."
"There's no time-frame or agenda set at this stage but we just want at this stage to carry on with the day-to-day meetings. I met Gillian, she's in good spirits, she has been very positive, she had warm things to say about Sudan."
Intense activity
Mrs Gibbons's local MP Louise Ellman said: "You have got to remember there are other forces in Khartoum as well who feel the sentence was too lenient and so I think it is a matter of doing everything that is possible, doing it very carefully, keeping very focussed and just dealing with things as they arise."Mrs Gibbons's local MP Louise Ellman said: "You have got to remember there are other forces in Khartoum as well who feel the sentence was too lenient and so I think it is a matter of doing everything that is possible, doing it very carefully, keeping very focussed and just dealing with things as they arise."
Following an hour-long visit to Mrs Gibbons by the British ambassador on Sunday, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "Ms Gibbons's welfare remains our priority and we will continue to provide full consular assistance for as long as Ms Gibbons is detained.Following an hour-long visit to Mrs Gibbons by the British ambassador on Sunday, a Foreign Office spokesman said: "Ms Gibbons's welfare remains our priority and we will continue to provide full consular assistance for as long as Ms Gibbons is detained.
"Government ministers and officials in London and Sudan are continuing to do everything they can to try to resolve this consular issue as quickly as possible through intense activity on a wide range of channels.""Government ministers and officials in London and Sudan are continuing to do everything they can to try to resolve this consular issue as quickly as possible through intense activity on a wide range of channels."
Mrs Gibbons allowed her class to name the teddy bear Muhammad UK Sudanese defends teacher "Islamic guidance needed"
The two peers have already held meetings with Sudanese government officials, including the foreign minister, to try to resolve the situation.The two peers have already held meetings with Sudanese government officials, including the foreign minister, to try to resolve the situation.
Mrs Gibbons's chief defence lawyer has said he expected her to be pardoned following the peers' visit.Mrs Gibbons's chief defence lawyer has said he expected her to be pardoned following the peers' visit.
He told the BBC that he had advised his client not to appeal against the verdict or the sentence "for practical and not legal reasons", and she had accepted his advice.He told the BBC that he had advised his client not to appeal against the verdict or the sentence "for practical and not legal reasons", and she had accepted his advice.
In her first public comment since her arrest, Mrs Gibbons said she had been treated well and made a light-hearted comment that she been given so many apples that she "could set up my own stall".In her first public comment since her arrest, Mrs Gibbons said she had been treated well and made a light-hearted comment that she been given so many apples that she "could set up my own stall".
However despite her apparent good spirits, she is being held in secret due to fears for her safety after crowds of protesters marched in the capital Khartoum on Friday demanding a tougher sentence. Some called for the death penalty.However despite her apparent good spirits, she is being held in secret due to fears for her safety after crowds of protesters marched in the capital Khartoum on Friday demanding a tougher sentence. Some called for the death penalty.