Philip Hammond arrives in Saudi Arabia for key visit
Briton Karl Andree 'to be released from Saudi prison'
(35 minutes later)
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has arrived for a visit to Saudi Arabia, as the UK's relationship with the country comes under increasing scrutiny.
A British man who was imprisoned for possessing alcohol in Saudi Arabia will be released within a week, Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond has said.
Mr Hammond will discuss Syria and Yemen and raise "current Saudi judicial cases", the Foreign Office said.
Karl Andree, 74, was arrested by Saudi religious police after being found in possession of homemade wine.
The UK recently cancelled a £5.9m deal to provide "training needs analysis" for Saudi prison service staff.
He has been in prison for more than a year and his family feared he would also be flogged, although Saudi officials denied this would happen.
The Saudi ambassador to the UK previously warned of repercussions over a "change" in the UK's attitude.
Mr Hammond tweeted of his "delight" that Mr Andree was getting released.
Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf bin Abdulaziz said Saudi Arabia would "not be lectured to by anyone".
The full tweet said: "Delighted to announce Brit Karl Andree will be released from Saudi custody within a week & reunited with his family."
'Ruffled feathers'
Saudi Arabia has long been accused of human rights abuses, and has come under pressure from the UK over its treatment of both expats and Saudi nationals who have fallen foul of the country's Islamic laws.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said Mr Hammond's visit was intended to "smooth ruffled feathers" because Saudi Arabia is an "enormously important" partner for the UK in terms of trade, intelligence and defence.
But the country was also a controversial partner, he said, not least because its "human rights record is pretty awful".
Controversial cases involving Britons in Saudi Arabia include that of Karl Andree, 74, who was jailed for possessing alcohol. He was also sentenced to 360 lashes - which his family said could kill him - but Saudi officials have said this punishment will not be carried out.
David Cameron has written a letter requesting Mr Andree's release.
'Consular cases'
Meanwhile, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also spoken to Mr Cameron about the case of Saudi national Ali Mohammed Baqir al-Nimr who was arrested when he was 17 in 2011 for taking part in an anti-government protest and now faces the death penalty.
A Foreign Office statement said Mr Hammond was in the region to meet with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the crisis in Syria.
"During the Gulf visit, the foreign secretary will also discuss the ongoing conflict in Yemen," the statement added.
"As usual on all visits, he will raise consular cases, including current Saudi judicial cases."
On Friday he will fly to Vienna for further talks about Syria with a host of other countries including the US, Iran, Germany and Jordan before heading to Bahrain at the weekend to give speech about extremism.