YORK street entertainer Michael Todd spoke today of his shock at being arrested in Iraq by US troops on suspicion of being an al Qaida terrorist.

Speaking for the first time today from the British Embassy in Baghdad, Mr Todd, claimed he was handcuffed, blindfolded and forced to wear an orange "terrorist" suit by American forces.

"I was convinced they were going to send me to Guantanamo Bay," he said. "I've had machine guns trained on me 24 hours a day for the last three weeks."

Mr Todd, 33, also known as Michael Mime, said his ordeal began on July 4 when he was picked up by American troops at Sulaymaniyah, in northern Iraq, after they had just completed a military operation at a "Turkish building". He claims he was arrested while walking near the building and accused of being an al Qaida terrorist.

"I was bundled into the back of an army vehicle by US troops and spat at," he said.

"The name being shouted in my ears was al Qaida."

Mr Todd, of Bishophill, says he was in the town to look for his estranged Iraqi girlfriend and their daughter, Sajida.

He originally went on a mission to spread "unconditional love" to the country, and took hundreds of soft toys donated to Iraqi children by York residents.

Mr Todd claims he was kept under armed guard day and night at Baghdad Airport.

The Foreign Office has now arranged for him to be flown back to England tomorrow following his release last Saturday.

"I hope this sends out a message to the world: if your heart is full of love and you're doing good in the world the United States will find you guilty," he said.

"The British Embassy were very good and the American soldiers were generally very kind in Baghdad.

"Until I see the green of Britain I won't believe it's all over."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office confirmed today that Mr Todd would be flown back to England tomorrow.

"Mr Todd has been looked after by the Foreign Office in Baghdad since his release," he said.

Updated: 12:20 Thursday, July 31, 2003