THE behind-the-scenes discussions which led to yesterday's announcement were described as an unrivalled ''diplomatic coup''.
Prime Minister Tony Blair is sure to attract much of the praise, following a visit to Saudi Arabia last month, though officially his role has been played down.
Lawyer Stephen Jakobi, of Fair Trials Abroad, which lobbied for Lucille McLauchlan and Deborah Parry to be allowed legal representation, welcomed the pardon.
He said: ''The two governments and those responsible for reaching this solution must be congratulated.
''I was not expecting this to happen this soon. It is a diplomatic coup. There has been a hell of a lot of work behind the scenes.''
He said a similar case, involving an Irish nurse, had taken almost twice as long to resolve.
Mr Jakobi said the fact the women had been pardoned, rather than having their convictions overturned, would not reflect badly on them.
He said: ''Anywhere in the Middle East, a pardon is the way of solving things like this. You don't get retrials. This is basically the only way out.
''I don't think anybody is going to take too much notice of their convictions now.''
One of the lawyers for the British nurses, Glasgow-based solicitor Peter Watson, said: ''If the news is true, we are absolutely delighted. We were always confident of getting a result, even in the darkest moments, and we look forward to seeing the girls home in Britain.
''The entire team would like to thank the British media for the tremendous support they have given and the sensitive treatment of this case throughout.''
He could not comment on suggestions that Mr Blair had paved the way for the release of the nurses but he said there had been ''tremendous support'' from the Foreign Office and diplomats.
Mr Watson said they would continue to deny the charges and would ''protest their innocence'' on their return to Britain.
The nurses' Saudi lawyer expressed his gratitude to King Fahd for his ''shining example'' of Islamic justice.
Salah al-Hejailan said: ''I think justice has been served in a perfect way, in all dimensions.
''The position of the king is a shining aspect of Islamic justice.
Mr al-Hejailan said he had not spoken to the nurses since the news had come through but added he was certain they would have been told.
Mr al-Hejailan said the two nurses had submitted a written appeal for mercy to King Fahd and had also expressed their appreciation to him for the way in which their case had been treated.
Miss McLauchlan's MP, Mr Ernie Ross, the Labour MP for Dundee West, said he had spoken to her father, Mr Stan McLauchlan, and he described it as ''brilliant news''.
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