Treasury IT worker survives blog row

A Muslim IT worker who was suspended from the civil service after comments appeared on his website justifying the killing of British troops has returned to work.



Azad Ali, an IT worker at the Treasury, faced a six-month suspension on full pay following a series of posts he made about conflicts in the Middle East.



Although the offending comments were on his personal blog, the posts were linked to his official role as the president of the Civil Service Islamic Society.



In one, he was said to have found 'much truth' in an interview with an Islamic militant who said: "If I saw an American or British man wearing a soldier's uniform inside Iraq I would kill him because that is my obligation."



Mr Ali, who has since undergone an internal investigation, also criticised David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, for condemning Hamas after its leader said Jewish children were "legitimate targets".



The Treasury does not comment on individual cases but has confirmed Mr Ali was back at work, adding that the matter was handled "in accordance with our disciplinary procedures."