Sudanese authorities have moved the British teacher Gillian Gibbons to a secret location tonight after thousands of people called for her execution in an angry demonstration in the capital.

The protesters emerged from Khartoum’s mosques after Friday prayers and gathered outside the presidential palace shouting slogans against Ms Gibbons.

The rowdy scenes took place as it emerged that a senior Labour peer was launching a private rescue mission to try to secure the early release of the 54-year-old teacher.

Ms Gibbons was sentenced to 15 days in jail after being convicted of inciting religious hatred for letting her pupils at one of the city’s schools name a toy bear Mohamed.

Lord Ahmed, Britain's first Muslim peer, was due to fly out to Khartoum today, raising hopes that the mother of two, from Liverpool, could be freed soon.

Some protesters taunted Western journalists by drawing a finger across their throats while others burnt newspapers that carried pictures of Ms Gibbons on the front page. The scenes in Martyrs Square, outside the palace, were becoming increasingly ugly.

When The Times attempted to report on the demonstration, thought to be organised by extremists who were whipping up anti-Western feelings, its reporter was threatened and forced to leave the area.

Lord Ahmed would not comment today on his trip, but it is understood that he has visited Sudan on several occasions and it is hoped that his influence may sway the Government to reconsider the controversial case surrounding the mother-of-two.

Earlier, British embassy officials emerged from a meeting with the teacher and described her as in good spirits despite her ordeal.

Ms Gibbons, from Liverpool, was found guilty yesterday of insulting Islam but escaped conviction on a more serious charge of inciting hatred, which could have earned her 40 lashes, a fine and a six-month jail term.

She was said to have defended herself tearfully during the eight-hour trial in Khartoum by explaining that her seven-year-old pupils had picked the name for the teddy bear. She insisted that she had never wanted to insult Islam.

Each of her students at the school took the bear home to write a diary entry. The entries were then compiled into a book, with the bear’s picture on the cover, which was titled “My Name Is Mohamed”.

Times Recommends

• Please help: maimed children of war want their lives back
• Cabal seizes diamond riches to buy power
• White House gatecrashers got to the president