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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Peers 'to meet Sudan president' | Peers 'to meet Sudan president' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 and Lord Ahmed have delayed their return to the UK and Lady Warsi said they had "made progress". | Baroness Warsi and Lord Ahmed have delayed their return to the UK and Lady Warsi said they had "made progress". |
| But she would not confirm the aide's announcement of a presidential meeting. | But she would not confirm the aide's announcement of a presidential meeting. |
| Gillian Gibbons, 54, of Liverpool, was jailed for 15 days on Thursday for insulting religion by 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. |
| 'Delicate times' | 'Delicate times' |
| Baroness Warsi, a Conservative peer, travelled to Sudan with Labour's Lord Ahmed on Saturday. | 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 Sudan | 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 Sudan |
| The pair had planned to return on Monday morning, but Lady Warsi said 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. | 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. | 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. | "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." | "These are very delicate times and were are trying to be as responsible and restrained as possible." |
| 'Early resolution' | 'Early resolution' |
| Mrs Gibbons still has "warm things" to say about Sudan, Lady Warsi said after meeting her again on Sunday. | 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. | 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' | 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." |
| 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." |
| 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. |