There are reports the federal government has reached a settlement with Maher Arar, who had been seeking compensation for Canada's role in an American decision to deport him to Syria, where he was jailed and tortured.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will make an announcement about the agreement on Friday, say reports from CBC and CTV news.

Arar was seeking $37 million in compensation, down from the original $400-million figure.

The package includes personal compensation of more than $10 million, a $2-million payment for Arar's legal fees, and an official apology, CTV reports.

The Syrian-born Canadian citizen was detained at an airport in New York in 2002 and sent to Syria, where he was tortured.

A judicial inquiry into his case led by Justice Dennis O'Connor was set up after Arar returned to Canada more than a year later.

O'Connor concluded Arar had no terror links and the RCMP had given misleading information to U.S. authorities, which may have been the reason he was sent to Syria.

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