Sudanese 'suspect' back in Canada

A man with dual Canadian-Sudanese citizenship has arrived in Canada after being stranded in Sudan for six years.

Abousfian Abdelrazik was arrested while visiting his sick mother in 2003, and accused of having links with al-Qaeda.

Canada refused to renew his passport, but after his release he stayed at the Canadian embassy in Khartoum.

On 4 June a Canadian court ordered the government to allow him to return. He denies any links to terrorism and has not been charged with any crimes.

Blacklist

Mr Abdelrazik was greeted by dozens of well-wishers as he arrived at Toronto airport late on Saturday.

"I want to say to my supporters from coast to coast, every town, every city, every village, thank you very much for supporting me," he said.

During his six years in Sudan, he was twice detained as a terror suspect. He has said he was tortured.

Mr Abdelrazik's Canadian passport expired when he was in prison. After his release he found that he was on a United Nations air travel blacklist.

He had lived in the lobby of the Canadian embassy in Sudan since April 2008, fearing arrest by local authorities.

Canadian intelligence officials have acknowledged there is no information linking him to any crime.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Canadian government
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites