United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday pardoned British national Matthew Hedges as part of a clemency for hundreds of others to mark the countrys National Day. Hedges had been jailed for life on spying charges. British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt expressed gratitude to the UAE for pardoning Hedges. "Fantastic news about Matthew Hedges," Hunt said. He added that he was “grateful” to the UAE government for resolving the issue “speedily.” The UAE President has ordered the release of 785 prisoners across the country ahead of the 47th National Day celebrations, Emirates News Agency reported. "The release of prisoners, and the settlement of their debts and fines, reflects the President’s keenness to grant them another chance for a new life and to relieve their families hardships," it added.