The wife of a detained businessman has flown out to his Baghdad holding camp to break to him first hand news of his release from a seven month detention.

Speaking to the Sutton Guardian from Iraq, Shereen Nasser, 24, of Carshalton, said her husband Kadhum Ridha Al Sarraj, 29, was relieved he would no longer be interrogated after terrorism charges against him were dropped.

But the research assistant said she was concerned how long his release would take after American forces said Mr Al-Sarraj, who holds a “spousal” visa in the UK as he is an Iraqi national, was still ranked as a high threat.

Mrs Nasser said she was told by Iraqi courts that he would be released 10 days after the Americans received the order, but a spokesman for US detainee operations in Iraq said there was no 10-day process for coalition-held detainees.

She said: “I’m quite skeptical. Until Kadhum is released safely it doesn’t mean a thing.

“This is a major step forward for us, but we just hope it will all be finished soon. Kadhum is well and seems okay, but we just want him home.”

Mr Al Sarraj, who was arrested on September 15 after a heart monitor he created was mistaken for a bomb, has been held in Camp Cropper where former President Saddam Hussein was held prior to receiving the death penalty.

Member of Parliament for Carshalton and Wallington Tom Brake took the case to British Foreign Office minister Bill Rammel when it emerged Mr Al Sarraj had appeared in court without a lawyer or the knowledge of his family.

Captain Will Powell, a US spokesman for American detainee operations in Iraq, said: “Once the Government of Iraq approves the release of a detainee, that detainee is released in a safe and orderly manner in accordance with the security agreement.

“Scheduling the actual release may take longer than 10 days, as it is based on where he ranks in the threat-based release list.

“Those who are ranked as the lowest threat are being released first. Kadhum is still ranked as a high threat. He is not scheduled for release at this time.”