Fed: Only seven Afghans on Nauru found to be refugees

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Fed: Only seven Afghans on Nauru found to be refugees

Only seven of the 292 Afghan asylum seekers being detained by Australia on the Pacificisland of Nauru have been found to be refugees.

But 126 out of 201 asylum seekers of Iraqi origin have been found to be refugees, aswell as 14 other asylum seekers of mixed origin.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees, which has handed down its decisionstoday, says the 285 people denied refugee status will have a chance to be re-interviewedbecause of changed circumstances in Afghanistan.

It says it has asked countries not to force people to return to Afghanistan until Juneat the earliest, when it will review the situation.

AAP RTV sm/daw/wjf/rp

KEYWORD: BOAT UNHCR (CANBERRA)