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CANBERRA, Australia - Five doctors in Australia quizzed by federal police late last week over the UK bombing attempts have been released on the grounds they will be available for further questioning, Attorney-General Philip Ruddock says.
Indian doctor Mohammed Haneef, was still being detained by authorities because he had attempted to leave the country on a one-way ticket, Mr Ruddock said today.
A seventh doctor who had been working at the Gold Coast Hospital was also questioned early last week but has been cleared and released.
"It's not a question of whether people are in the clear or not, it's a question of whether or not you have come to a view that they would continue to be available for questioning that might arise during the course of the inquiry," he told the Nine Network.
"The distinguishing factor in relation to Dr Haneef from the others was that he was intent on leaving Australia . . . he had a one-way ticket.
"There are explanations that have been offered by his family for that but what I think what the police have wanted to ensure is that he would continue to be available for the questioning that they're undertaking."
Mr Ruddock also played down a report today suggesting that there was a plan for bombs in Britain to be activated by phone from Australia.
"It probably misstates what is in the public arena," he said.
"That is that some of the people who had been in the United Kingdom who had now come to Australia as temporary residents left behind telephones and SIM cards which other people were using.
"I'm not sure there is a direct connection but look, I wouldn't want to foreclose any avenue of inquiry that the police are taking."
Police have questioned a total of seven doctors in Australia: Dr Haneef, who is still in custody, another doctor from the Gold Coast Hospital who was cleared and released, four doctors questioned and released in Western Australia and one doctor who was questioned and released in NSW.
- AAP
