In Afghanistan, the Taleban foreign minister, Wakil Ahmed Muttawakil, has said the hijackers should be dealt with according to British or international law.

Mr Muttawakil thanked the British authorities for resolving the hijack peacefully.

He repeated Taleban allegations that the hijackers were linked to opposition forces in Afghanistan, and he said that the plane, the passengers and the crew should be returned to Afghanistan. But diplomats are reported to have said Britain might technically be accused of violating sanctions if it returns the airliner.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service