UN to probe 'beating' of deported Iraqis by UK staff

London, 19 Jun-(ANA)-The UN refugee agency is investigating allegations that deported Iraqi asylum seekers were beaten by UK Border Agency staff to get them on and off the plane.

It is believed 42 Iraqi men were flown back to Baghdad in a forced return.

Sixteen are still being held at Baghdad airport where they arrived early on Thursday.

The UKBA declined to comment on the specific allegations, but said minimum force would only be used as a last resort.

The deportation was carried out by the UKBA in conditions of complete secrecy, with no information of any kind being given out.

The chief of security at Baghdad airport, Col Athir al-Musawi, said that 16 men were being detained while their identities and papers were verified.

The other deportees were released after it was established that their papers were in order.

The UN refugee agency, the UNHCR, said that all 14 of the deportees whom its lawyers in Baghdad spoke to alleged that they had been beaten and forced to get on the plane in London. (ANA)

FA/ANA/19 June 2010------------