Three Iraqi diplomats claim asylum in Australia

CANBERRA, Feb 8 (Reuters) Three Iraqi diplomats and their families have asked for humanitarian asylum in Australia, refusing orders to return to their conflict-wracked country, Australian government officials said today.

Chief defence attache Brigadier-General Sabah al-Kareen Zebon Fureje and two staff, Colonel Kamal J Askander and Ala' al-Amiri, refused to go home after the defence office within the Canberra embassy was shut down in mid-December.

The claim may embarrass the Australian government, which insists Iraq is making progress towards democracy, despite the country's bloody post-war insurgency. A close US ally, Australia has about 1,500 troops deployed in and around Iraq.

''The three Iraqi staff working in the office have completed their postings and their diplomatic accreditation has been ceased,'' an Australian foreign affairs department spokesman said.

''We understand these officials and their dependants have applied through normal channels for visas to remain.'' An Iraqi embassy spokesman said the three had been stripped of their diplomatic status and were no longer in touch with ambassador Ghanim T Al-Shibli.

Al-Shibli was closeted in meetings with foreign ministry officials in Canberra today, while Australian Federal Police detectives visited the embassy.

''We have no connection with them at the present time. They became ordinary citizens,'' the embassy spokesman said.

Last month US President George W Bush ordered an extra 21,500 troops to Iraq in a bid to end sectarian violence in Baghdad and Anbar province.

The trio were ordered home four years after Australia expelled Iraqi diplomats on the eve of the war against Saddam Hussein's former regime. The mission reopened in November 2004.

Former Iraqi Air Force pilot Askander, his wife Ibtisam and their four children feared for their safety following a string of kidnappings and ransom demands against former diplomats on their return to Baghdad, lawmaker Gary Humphries told the daily Australian.

Humphries, a government senator, said Askander's brother had been kidnapped by militants and his brother-in-law murdered because he sold alcohol.

The foreign affairs spokesman said their request for humanitarian asylum would be dealt with by Australian immigration officials on their individual merits under Australian law.

''We understand that these officers and their dependants have applied through normal channels for visas to remain in Australia,'' he said.

The granting of a protection visa in 2004 to a former member of Saddam's secret intelligence service outraged the small Iraqi community in Australia, many of whom are on temporary visas.

A Chinese diplomat, Chen Yonglin, successfully defected to Australia in June 2005, straining Canberra's relations with Beijing amid claims of dissident persecution.

REUTERS MS VV0904