Thai court orders release of refugee soccer player

Bangkok: A Thai court has ordered the release of a refugee football player after prosecutors said they were no longer seeking his extradition to Bahrain in a case that has drawn worldwide attention.

Footage filmed Monday purportedly showed a convoy carrying Hakeem al-Araibi out of prison, according to a guard who requested not to be named.

Prosecutors on Monday submitted to court a request to withdraw the case to extradite al-Araibi to Bahrain, where he faces a 10-year prison sentence for involvement in an arson attack that damaged a police station - charges which he has denied, saying the case is politically motivated.

Thailand had come under great pressure from Australia's government, sporting bodies and human rights groups to return al-Araibi back to Australia, where he has refugee status and plays semi-professional football.

Officials in Bahrain, an island kingdom off the coast of Saudi Arabia that is home to the US Navy's 5th Fleet, did not immediately respond to calls and emails seeking comment Monday.

Al-Araibi, 25, a former Bahraini national team player, was detained at the request of Bahrain relayed through Interpol upon his arrival in Bangkok in November while on honeymoon with his wife.

He has said he fled Bahrain due to political repression and that he fears torture if he returns.