Family's joy as abducted girl returns home

THE family of a six-year-old girl who was abducted by her father said they were ecstatic following her return home after more than two years in hiding in Libya.

Nadia Fawzi was snatched from her home in Wigan, Greater Manchester, by her father Fawzi Abuarghub in May 2007.

Her distraught mother Sarah Taylor, 34, moved to the north African country in a bid to find her little girl.

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Mr Abuarghub refused to disclose Nadia's whereabouts when he was arrested by the Libyan authorities.

But mother and daughter were finally reunited in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, in December last year when she was found by British embassy staff.

Yesterday, Ms Taylor and Nadia returned to the UK.

Nadia's grandmother, Dot Taylor, from Wigan, said: "The family are ecstatic to have her back."

Speaking from her home in Hindley Green, Mrs Taylor said: "They got back today and it is the best feeling. We are so happy, we are ecstatic to have her home. Now we just want to spend some time together alone as a family."

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Ms Taylor's campaign was supported by her MP, Health Secretary Andy Burnham, who flew to Libya to meet with senior ministers.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown also intervened, and asked the Libyan leader, Colonel Gaddafi, to help find the little girl.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister is delighted that Nadia Fawzi and her mother Sarah are now back in the UK. He is grateful to the Libyan government, and to all those involved in ensuring their safe return."

Ms Taylor's ex-husband had abducted Nadia while he still lived in the UK, under the pretence he was taking her to a party. He then boarded a plane with her to his home country, in defiance of a British court's custody ruling.

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Shortly after being reunited with Nadia, civil servant Ms Taylor said she was "overjoyed" and looking forward to getting to know her daughter again.

Mr Burnham met Ms Taylor and her daughter at Manchester Airport on their return.

In a statement, he said: "Sarah has been travelling alone on the hardest road imaginable for any mother but she is back home tonight and her nightmare is over."