Iraqi refugees in Egypt snub return offer

CAIRO, Aug. 21 (UPI) -- Displaced Iraqis living in Egypt refused financial incentives offered by the Iraqi government to entice them to return home, several refugees said.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki offered refugees compensation for travel expenses as well as financial aid for resettlement if they returned to Iraq. Of the 100,000 Iraqis living in Cairo, however, only 240 have returned home, the Iraqi daily Azzaman said Thursday.

"We cannot believe their claims that conditions are safe. Our house is gone, and our relatives staying behind give us a totally different picture of the situation," said one refugee.

Others said they had exhausted their financial resources already, making the return trip to Iraq challenging. Still others cited problems with their residency permits.

Several refugees said Iraq under U.S. occupation had lost its appeal, noting the U.S. and Iraqi governments no longer could be trusted.

The United Nations estimates at least 4 million Iraqis have fled violence in their country since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.