Iraqi refugees accepted
Switzerland has agreed to admit 24 Iraqi nationals following a request by the Geneva-based United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
This content was published on November 29, 2008 - 14:38
The Federal Migration Office said the decision was taken after a thorough examination of the cases.
There are currently about 6,000 Iraqis asylum seekers and those with temporary refugee status in Switzerland.
The European Union on Thursday decided to accept up to 10,000 Iraqi refugees next year.
Overall an estimated 15,000 people - mainly from Eritrea, Somalia, Nigeria and Iraq - will have applied for asylum in Switzerland this year amid moves by the government to tighten asylum legislation.
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