Ambassador meets jailed British teacher

Last Modified: 02 Dec 2007
By: Nima Elbagir

The British Ambassador to Sudan has met Gillian Gibbons today and British Muslim peer Baroness Warsi confirms she is "doing very well".

"We're holding meetings again today, there are serious discussions which are ongoing."
British Muslim peer Baroness Warsi

High-level talks ongoing

The Foreign Office said British Ambassador has seen Mrs Gibbons and spent just over an hour with her.

Yesterday, two prominent British Muslim peers, Labour's Lord Ahmed and Baroness Warsi of the Conservatives, met Sudanese officials in Khartoum as part of the effort to secure the release of 54-year-old Mrs Gibbons.

When asked about a possible resolution, Baroness Warsi said, "I'm hopeful. There's a huge amount of goodwill here, we want to keep building on that, and keep searching for a resolution."

She added, "She's doing very well, we are telling her what is happening."

Hopes grow

Gillian Gibbons' defence team hope for an early pardon as the two peers hope to meet the Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, today.

In comments to Channel 4 News, Mrs Gibbons herself said she is being well-treated - and would return to work there in Sudan tomorrow if she could.

She is currently serving 15 days in prison for insulting Islam after allowing her class to name a teddy bear Mohammed.

She is at a secret location following genuine fears for her safety following marches in the capital where protestors demanded a harsher sentence, with some calling for the death penalty.