Brazil not to retaliate on citizen's detention in London

Brazil has no plans to retaliate against British nationals entering the country after one of its own citizens was "unjustifiably" detained in Britain under an anti-terrorism law, state news agency Agencia Brasil said.

The agency Tuesday said the government is not considering a tit-for-tat measure, because David Miranda's detention Sunday at London's Heathrow airport is regarded as an isolated case, Xinhua reported.

Miranda's detention was widely seen as a warning to his partner Glenn Greenwald, who has written a series of articles disclosing the extent of the US government's secret global surveillance programme, which eavesdrops on digital communications around the world, including Brazil.

Miranda was returning to Rio from Berlin when he was detained at the airport's transit lounge, and was stripped of his laptop, cellphone and other electronic devices.

Brazil's Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota said Monday that Miranda's detention was "unjustified", and another instance of official excess committed in the name of fighting terrorism.

Patriota said he discussed the incident with British Foreign Secretary William Hague in the hope that it will not happen again.

Britain's anti-terrorism law allows the police to detain anyone at a port of entry for up to nine hours before formal charges are brought up.

Miranda said he was detained for nine hours before being released without any charge, and his belongings remain with the authorities.