Footballer freed

A Thai court ordered the release of refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi yesterday after prosecutors said they were no longer seeking his extradition to Bahrain in a case that has drawn worldwide attention. Thailand had come under pressure to send al-Araibi back to Australia, rather than Bahrain, where he faces a 10-year prison sentence for an arson attack that damaged a police station. He has denied those charges and says the case is politically motivated. Thai prosecutors made the decision after receiving a letter yesterday that indicated Bahrain had withdrawn its request for al-Araibi.