George Galloway to sue Canada govt

LONDON — Firebrand former MP George Galloway is to sue the Canadian government for $1.5 million over claims made against him in 2009, it has been announced.

A statement of claim alleging defamation and misfeasance of public office was Tuesday served on Immigration, Nationalities and Multiculturalism minister Jason Kenney and his assistant Alykhan Velshi.

Kenney and Velshi accused the Scottish politician of being a member of a terrorist group and of being a threat to Canada's national security in 2009 when justifying Galloway's ban from entering the Commonwealth nation.

Galloway was notified in March 2009 by border officials that his donations of cars and cash to the Hamas-run government in Gaza made him inadmissible to Canada, as Hamas is listed in Canada as a terrorist organization.

He was later denied an injunction that might have allowed him to speak at anti-war forums in Canada.

A federal court dismissed an application by his supporters, saying: "Upon review, the court found that Mr. Galloway did not attempt to enter Canada, and so no legally reviewable decision to exclude him was made."

Galloway is best known for his testimony in the the US Senate in 2005.

The former lawmaker was summoned to defend himself over allegations of irregularities in the Iraq Oil-for-Food program, but ended up launching a scathing attack against US foreign policy.

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