A pilot the British authorities wrongly accused of involvement in the September 11 attacks has won his legal battle for compensation.

The man, an Algerian-born British resident, was arrested in Britain shortly after the attacks.

Lotfi Raissi was held in a maximum security prison for nearly five months before a judge ordered his release, saying there was no evidence to link him to terrorism.

Two years ago, the court of appeal said Mr Raissi had been the victim of the heightened emotional atmosphere at the end of 2001 and ordered ministers to consider paying damages.

Justice secretary Jack Straw has now declared that Mr Raissi is eligible for compensation.

The amount will be independently assessed but it is thought it could run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.

Mr Raissi says he is delighted the decision exonerated him.

"This is one of the best days of my life. I mean nine years of struggle, I mean this is the end of it," he said.

"My life was destroyed. My career was destroyed... It was hell for me for the last nine years."