Last-gasp reprieve in deportation case

Ali Serir and his wife Karen were arrested

An Algerian man arrested in Glasgow during an anti-terrorism operation has received a last-minute reprieve against deportation.

Lawyer Aamer Anwar said the order against Ali Serir had been cancelled "for the foreseeable future" the day before he was due to leave the country.

The 28-year-old has been detained since he and his his pregnant wife Karen were arrested at their Glasgow home in February.

No charges were brought against Mr Serir, who is being held at Greenock Prison under immigration rules.

Mr Anwar said he would now be seeking bail for his client, who had been due to be deported to Algeria on Friday.

The lawyer said on Thursday that he had been told that "the removal directions have been cancelled for the foreseeable future".

Campaigners met Mr Serir on Monday

"As a result of the actions of the British Government and the British police, Ali Serir has been exposed in the terms of the Algerian regime as a suspected terrorist and is likely to be killed if he returns to the Algiers," he claimed.

Mrs Serir, 31, described the development as "very encouraging news".

She said: "I am very relieved but am a bit panicky. I just want him home."

Campaigners calling for the deportation to be halted had met Mr Serir, a chef, in Greenock Prison on Monday.

They included Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan, who had urged Home Secretary David Blunkett to intervene on compassionate grounds.