DARFUR SURVIVORS GRANTED RIGHT TO STAY: GOVT

WANTED SUDANESE LEADER OMAR AL-BASHIR.

Survivors of the Darfur conflict will no longer be deported from Britain, the government said Tuesday, after concerns about deterioration in conditions in the Sudanese capital.

Asylum seekers will have the right to remain in Britain for up to five years, or until the situation improves in the strife-torn country, the Home Office said.

"The British Government takes its international responsibilities seriously and we will grant protection to those Sudanese nationals that need it," said Matthew Coats, head of immigration at the UK Border Agency.

"We will continue to consider each application for protection on its individual merits.”

"We will always seek to remove from the UK those who do not need our protection and who have no right to remain here.”

"We will monitor the situation in Sudan very carefully and will review our policy as and when new information becomes available."

The move comes after human rights groups reported persecution of Darfuris after their return to the capital Khartoum.

The Darfur Union, which campaigns in Britain and Ireland for survivors of the conflict, applauded the decision.

"So many of our members have been living in limbo for years. Now, we can start to rebuild our lives here," said Khatir Kayabil, general secretary of the group.”

The United Nations says up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million fled their homes since ethnic minority rebels in Darfur first rose up against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum in February 2003.

The Sudanese government disputes the death toll, saying 10,000 people died.

Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir faces an international arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity arising from atrocities committed in Darfur.