Britain loses legal battle over Afghan hijackers

LONDON, Aug 4 (Reuters) The British government lost a legal battle today over the status of nine Afghans who hijacked a plane, flew it to London and threatened to blow it up if they were denied political asylum.

The Court of Appeal ruled that the government was wrong when it granted the hijackers only ''temporary admission'' to Britain once the hijack crisis was resolved.

It should have given them ''discretionary leave'', an enhanced status which entitles them to work in Britain and receive state benefits, and also makes their deportation more difficult.

The government said it was dismayed by today's ruling and would toughen its laws in response.

''I am disappointed,'' Home Secretary (Interior Minister) John Reid said in a statement. ''I continue to believe that those whose actions have undermined any legitimate claim to asylum should not be granted leave to remain in the United Kingdom.'' ''I intend to legislate at the earliest opportunity to take new powers to deny people in this position leave to remain.'' The nine Afghans, armed with knives and guns, hijacked a Boeing 727 plane in February 2000 after it took off from the Afghan capital Kabul on an internal flight.

They ordered the pilot to fly to London's Stansted airport, telling negotiators they would blow the plane up with all its passengers on board if they were denied asylum.

The men -- leaders and members of the political group Young Intellectuals of Afghanistan - claimed they faced torture or death in Afghanistan at the hands of the Taliban.

The crisis eventually ended peacefully and no one was hurt.

The nine men were jailed in 2001 for the hijack but their convictions were quashed in 2003 when a court ruled they had been acting under duress.

The government then tried to restrict their movements, granting them only ''temporary admission'' status, which meant they were barred from working or receiving benefits and had to report to authorities on a regular basis.

The hijackers appealed and, in May this year, a court said they should be given ''discretionary leave''.

Today's ruling upheld that decision.

REUTERS SY VV1710