Refugees fear further intrusion

The Auckland Refugee Council has expressed grave concerns that the presence in the country of members of Saddam Hussein's regime could result in all refugees being targeted by the Immigration Service.

The council said yesterday that genuine asylum-seekers "are already under enormous strain as they wait for the hearing decision".

New Zealand First leader Winston Peters has named former members of the regime who have slipped into the country because of inadequate immigration processes, and the department is looking back through two years of records.

The council said there were already "very stringent measures" in place to identify asylum-seekers who apply for refuge at the border.

Meanwhile, Mr Peters said genuine Iraqi immigrants living here were encountering former members of Saddam's regime on the streets.

"A number of genuine Iraqi people ... have contacted my office to point out that they have been meeting some of their former tormentors in the street," he said.

"It is time for a major investigation into all the arrivals from suspect countries. This must include some of the dubious asylum-seekers and refugees so beloved by this security-unconscious Government."

- Herald staff, NZPA