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Brown steps into interpreters row Brown steps into interpreters row
(about 3 hours later)
Gordon Brown says he will review the cases of Iraqi interpreters who have been told any claim for asylum in the UK will not be given special treatment.Gordon Brown says he will review the cases of Iraqi interpreters who have been told any claim for asylum in the UK will not be given special treatment.
The interpreters say they are in fear for their lives, because they are seen as traitors by local militias. The 91 interpreters say they are in fear for their lives, because they are seen as traitors by local militias.
The Home Office insists they will have to apply for asylum in the normal way - registering when they arrive in the UK.The Home Office insists they will have to apply for asylum in the normal way - registering when they arrive in the UK.
No 10 said the issue would be kept under review, but previous decisions were unlikely to be overturned.No 10 said the issue would be kept under review, but previous decisions were unlikely to be overturned.
The Ministry of Defence says the number of Iraqis who have helped British forces, and could qualify for assistance, totals 15,000.The Ministry of Defence says the number of Iraqis who have helped British forces, and could qualify for assistance, totals 15,000.
Requests for help from serving or ex-employees were based on their "individual merits", the MoD said.Requests for help from serving or ex-employees were based on their "individual merits", the MoD said.
A government spokeswoman said: "We are extremely grateful for the service of locally-employed staff in Iraq and take their security very seriously.
As a matter of honour, we have to look after them one way or the other if they have a genuine case William Hague, shadow foreign secretary
"We recognise that there are concerns about the safety of former employees. Government keeps all such issues under review and we will now look again at the assistance we provide.
"This is a genuinely complex issue and we welcome further discussion, but we need to consider all the options very carefully."
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says interpreters are marked men who "face a horrific death".BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says interpreters are marked men who "face a horrific death".
'Specific requests''Specific requests'
He said the interpreters face two levels of danger: that experienced while on patrol, and the consequences of being seen as collaborators.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."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.""Not just by al-Qaeda in the Sunni areas, but by the Shia militias in the south."
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.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."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".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".He said "In operational theatres, we consider any specific requests for assistance from serving or ex-employees on their individual merits".
Denmark granted asylum to 60 Iraqi staff and their families in July after it withdrew troops from Iraq.
The US has said 7,000 Iraqis will be taken in this year, which will include former employees.