CANBERRA, Australia, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Three Iraqi diplomats have sought asylum in Australia after being recalled to Baghdad and stripped of their diplomatic status.
"All three Iraqi staff ... have completed their posting and their diplomatic accreditation has ceased, a spokesman for the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told The Australian newspaper.
"We understand these officers and their dependants have applied through normal channels for visas to remain in Australia."
The three were identified as Brig. Gen. Sabah al-Kareem Zebon Fureje, Col. Kamal J. Askander and Ala' al-Amiri. The office in which they worked at the embassy in Canberra was closed by the Iraqi government in December and they were ordered home.
The Askanders are Christians and believe they are at particular physical risk if they were to return to Iraq. The colonel also believes he is at risk because of his career as an air force pilot, the newspaper said.
The report said Iraqi diplomats returning home are of particular risk of kidnapping for ransom.
"There's a fear that on all those counts they could be targeted and experience difficulty living safely in Iraq," said Sen. Gary Humphries, who the newspaper said in looking into the Askanders' case.
Additional details were not immediately available, but DFAT said the "applications will be processed ... on their individual merits and in accordance with Australian law."
