Britain to shelter Iraqi interpreters

LONDON, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Britain has agreed to give free transportation, housing and benefits to Iraqis who worked as interpreters in the war-torn Mideast nation.

The translators and their families -- as many as 1,500 in all -- are to be flown to Britain beginning in April for resettlement in northern cities, the Daily Mail reported Saturday.

The multimillion-dollar program was pushed through after Prime Minister Gordon Brown last year refused to relocate Iraqi interpreters who said they were facing death threats for their work with British armed forces, the British newspaper reported.

Now, to be eligible for resettlement, Iraqis must prove they worked for 12 continuous months as interpreters for British personnel in Iraq.

The Danish government already has granted asylum to Iraqi interpreters and their families. The United States has promised to process 7,000 claims this year for the interpreters and their nearest relatives.