Cleared doctor may sue Australian government over terror detention

An Indian doctor cleared in Australia of involvement in a terror plot to bomb London and Glasgow may sue the Australian government, his lawyer has said.

Mohammed Haneef was reunited with his wife and newborn daughter in India after spending nearly a month in an Australian jail on suspicion of supporting last month's failed bomb attacks. He was mobbed by reporters when he flew home to Bangalore.

The 27-year-old doctor was released on Friday after the prosecutors said there was not enough evidence linking him to the plot.

Haneef's lawyer, Peter Russo, indicated that Haneef may be planning to sue the Australian government and suggested it consider an apology. Mr Russo also said he planned to appeal against the decision to strip Haneef of his work visa on "character" grounds.

"He is not expecting an apology, but I guess if the people who are in line for being sued want to mitigate their losses they might want to think about apologies," Mr Russo said.

Haneef had been charged with supporting a terrorist organisation because he gave his Sim card to a cousin, Sabeel Ahmed, when he left Britain in July last year.

British police have charged Ahmed, 26, with withholding information that could have prevented an act of terrorism. His brother, Kafeel Ahmed, set himself ablaze after crashing a Jeep into Glasgow airport.

It has also been reported that the Australian authorities have criticised Scotland Yard for allegedly providing false information ahead of the arrest.