Haneef thanks Australian people for support

MELBOURNE: Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, who was released after being absolved of terror charges in connection with the failed car bombings in the UK, on Sunday thanked Australian people for their support during his nearly four-week-old ordeal.

Speaking for the first time after his release on Friday, Haneef, who flew out of Australia last night to Bangalore, told the waiting media during a stopover in Bangkok that it was good to be free, according to the ABC news channel.

The 27-year-old Indian doctor said that he was grateful to the Australian people for their support. 'Definitely yes - thanks everyone.'

Despite the charges against Haneef being dropped, Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews has vowed he will not reinstate the doctor's work visa.

"I've had to defend this matter with one arm tied behind my back because of protected information," he told Channel Seven.