London mother on holiday is held in Syria

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Rwida Hamoud, 40, has been prevented from leaving the country after travelling to Syria on holiday with her three young children in April.

Her family fear she has been arrested because her former husband, Wahed Saker, is a dissident journalist and has been critical of the Syrian government.

Mr Saker, who sought asylum in Britain in 1998 and lives in Feltham, said Syrian police had allowed the children, aged 14, 11 and five, to fly back to Britain but stopped his former wife leaving the country.

Three days ago relatives in Syria told him Ms Hamoud, a British citizen, had now been jailed. He said: "The Syrian government are corrupt. They are trying to get to me because I criticise them and publish things they don't like.

"They stopped her leaving the country and have spent the last month trying to arrest her for anything.

"She knows nothing of my political work. We are so worried about what will happen to her."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm we have been giving consular assistance to a British woman and have raised the issue with the Syrian authorities."