US Embassy apology to UK Muslim leader

A British Muslim leader who was denied entry to the United States last week said he has received an apology and assurances of a visa from the US Embassy in London.

Dr Zaki Badawi, the chief imam at London Central Mosque and head of the Muslim College, had been scheduled to speak Thursday at the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York.

On Thursday, Badawi told The Associated Press he was detained and questioned for about six hours upon arrival in New York on Wednesday. Authorities didn't give him a reason for denying him entry to the United States, he said.

Thomas Becker, president of the institution, said Badawi told him by phone on Friday of the embassy's apology.

Badawi said he was told he would receive a visa from the embassy and that he was encouraged to resume his travels to the United States.

A spokeswoman for the US Customs and Border Protection Office in New York said Badawi then voluntarily withdrew his application to enter the country. A federal security official on Thursday said Badawi's name appeared on a US terror watch list, but provided no further details. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the information.

The US Embassy in London did not respond to a request to discuss the case on Thursday.

Badawi last week joined other British religious leaders in condemning the July 7 bombings in London that killed at least 53 people.