"That would go very handy, I would say, with the release of the report, definitely, because it has done great damage to my reputation, not only in Australia, but back in India and throughout the world." Dr Haneef said he did not feel enmity towards any person or agency in Australia. He was grateful to God, his lawyers and Mr Clarke and his team, "who have done very hard work … and have given me a clean sheet". He said his main priority now was to continue his medical work and care for his family. Mr Clarke singled out for the strongest criticism the Brisbane-based representative of the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Clive Porritt, and Australian Federal Police Commander Ramzi Jabbour, who contributed most to the decision to charge Dr Haneef without sufficient evidence. The report found that both were dedicated officers but Commander Jabbour had lost his objectivity and was unable to see that the evidence police collected amounted to very little. Against the advice of his superiors, Mr Porritt wrongly advised the police to charge Dr Haneef, Mr Clarke concluded.

No action will be taken against AFP Commissioner Mick Keelty or other agency heads. But the AFP will come under the supervision of a parliamentary committee and aspects of its operations will be overseen by the intelligence watchdog, the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security. Dr Haneef's second cousin, Kafeel Ahmed, died in a failed car bomb attack in Glasgow in June 2007 - but Mr Clarke said he could find no evidence that Dr Haneef was involved in that plot, which triggered his arrest, or that he even knew about it. But Mr Clarke also said he found no evidence of corruption or politicisation of the federal police. And while he found no evidence that then immigration minister Kevin Andrews was involved in any impropriety or conspiracy, Mr Clarke said his decision to cancel Dr Haneef's visa was "mystifying".

In Brisbane, Dr Haneef's lawyer, Stephen Keim, said the affair was a disaster. Mr Andrews yesterday declined to apologise. "The Australian people expected me to act," Mr Andrews said. "I had the courage to do so." Mr Clarke made 10 recommendations to improve procedures and prevent a repeat of the affair. The Government accepted them all. Attorney-General Robert McClelland released simultaneously a range of measures to improve counter-terrorism laws. They are based on reviews of the laws carried out in 2006 but not acted on. Mr McClelland said mistakes were made from officer level to the highest level and political leaders and agency heads must accept responsibility.

"But we have full confidence in all agency heads," he said. None of those heads will roll. Asked if the Government owed Dr Haneef an apology, Mr McClelland said it was up to former members of the Howard government to apologise. But shadow attorney-general George Brandis - who labelled the inquiry a political stunt - said Prime Minister Kevin Rudd should apologise to Mr Andrews. Maurice Blackburn Lawyers chairman Bernard Murphy said his firm was "very confident" about securing compensation and would approach the Rudd Government about damages to Dr Haneef.

Mr Murphy said Mr Andrews' claim that the Clarke report had vindicated him was a joke, and that the report proved the AFP's investigation was an "organisational disaster". Prominent lawyer David Galbally, QC, said: "I think he would have very good grounds to sue the Government, because I think what the Government did was unlawful and that's why it's not going to publish the full details of the report. "Allegations were made that he was in communication with terrorists in England and there was no evidence to support it. There is no question his detention was unlawful and he ought to be compensated." Tim Tobin, QC, said proving bad faith on the part of authorities could be difficult, but assessing the damage to Dr Haneef's good name would be straightforward. "You're probably looking at overall damages of $500,000, plus punitive damages of up to a further $100,000," he said. The AFP declined to say whether action was being taken against Commander Jabbour.

Loading A spokeswoman for the Commonwealth DPP would not say if Mr Porritt would be disciplined. The AFP said it would ensure all of the report's recommendations were implemented. With KAREN KISSANE, SARA SMILES and MATTHEW RICKETSON