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Iraqi interpreters who have risked their lives to help UK forces will not get asylum, a report has claimed.

Whitehall officials ignored appeals by high-ranking army officers for asylum to be given to 91 interpreters and their families, according to the Times.

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says interpreters are marked men who "face a horrific death".

The MoD says it considers requests for help from serving or ex-employees on their "individual merits".

'Cold shoulder'

However, the Times reported that one appeal for asylum was rejected even though it was accompanied by a glowing recommendation from a British commanding officer.


As a matter of honour, we have to look after them
William Hague
Shadow foreign secretary

The letter reached former Downing Street foreign policy adviser Nick Banner, who told the Iraqi to apply via the government website and to another country.

Frank Gardner said: "It seems from what the Times are saying that they're getting the cold shoulder.

"That the government is essentially saying: 'Sorry, we can't make exceptions for these people, despite the enormous sacrifices they have made.'

He said the interpreters face two levels of danger: that experienced while on patrol, and the consequences of being seen as collaborators.

"Anybody associated with the coalition, government ministries, and so on, they're all seen as traitors by the militias.

"Not just by al-Qaeda in the Sunni areas, but by the Shia militias in the south."

'Genuine case'

The United States has said it will accept 7,000 Iraqis in the coming year, and after Denmark withdrew its troops, it granted asylum to 60 Iraqis and their families.

Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "As a matter of honour, we have to look after them one way or the other if they have a genuine case."

An MoD spokesman said the government took the safety of local people who work for them "very seriously".

He said "In operational theatres, we consider any specific requests for assistance from serving or ex-employees on their individual merits."

Police in Iran say they have arrested 20 young people at a party in the city of Karaj, north-west of the capital Tehran, on Wednesday night.

More than 200 people were arrested a week ago in the same city for attending an illegal rock concert.

Parties, attended by members of both sexes, and where alcohol is consumed, are illegal in Iran.

The Iranian authorities have in recent months increased their enforcement of what is deemed to be moral behaviour.

Dress codes for women have been a particular target.

Police Col Majid Bazmun told the state Irna news agency that police surrounded the building in Karaj where the "decadent gathering" was taking place after acting on a tip-off from a member of the public.

Iran's chief of police, Esmaeel Ahmadi Moghaddam, said that the crackdown of recent months, described officially as the drive to "elevate security in society", would continue as it had proved popular with the public.