Stand down, lawyers tell Keelty

THE Australian Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, should stand down pending the outcome of the Clarke Inquiry into the handling of the Haneef case, the Australian Lawyers Alliance said yesterday.

Its national president, Clara Davies, said the AFP declaration that terrorism suspect Mohamed Haneef was "no longer a person of interest", while welcome, was disturbing.

Dr Haneef had been forced to endure more than 12 months of false accusation after his arrest at Brisbane Airport on July 2, 2007 when his mobile phone SIM card was linked to botched terrorism attacks in Britain.

"Revelations in the case, particularly in the past six to eight weeks, cast a shadow over the operations of the AFP under Mick Keelty," Ms Davies said.

"In a matter of this significance and importance Mr Keelty would have been aware of what was going on every step of the way. He should stand down until such time as John Clarke finalises his report."

Ms Davies said there remained questions over whether Mr Keelty had taken directions on how to handle the Haneef case from "up above".

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