PARIS, Jan 12: French anti-racism organisation SOS Racisme says it will sue the French government on behalf of Abderazak Besseghir, the 27-year old baggage-handler who was arrested on December 28 on charges of terrorism, and as a result spent two weeks in detention, with the final ten days in jail.

“His name was dragged through the press and ridiculed before public opinion, and we intend to obtain reparations for him, also take appropriate measures to be sure such situations don’t happen again,” said a spokesman for SOS Racisme.

Mr Besseghir was released on day when police finally admitted that in fact the airport baggage handler had been the victim of a “frame-up,” which is what he had proclaimed from the start.

A French ex-Army officer and private detective are now being questioned in an attempt to determine who was behind the attempt to frame the model employee, by placing explosives, firearms and other terrorist-related paraphernalia in his personal automobile not far from his place of work at Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport.

Meanwhile, French Justice minister Dominique Perben indicated that was “very sorry this happened,” although he refused to put any blame on police or magistrates, saying that “they were doing their job, and doing it well, and let’s not forget they’re the ones who decided in the end that Mr Besseghir wasn’t guilty.”

Having said that, Mr Perben also noted that “in the future, it’s true we should be more attentive, but we must also continue just as vigorously our fight against terrorism, all the while preserving the individual’s right to presumption of innocence.”