Annan warns Kenya 'refugee abusers'

Kenya is a temporary home to nearly 200,000 refugees

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan says any staff found guilty of extorting money from African refugees should face harsh penalties.

The UN is investigating the activities of at least four of its staff based in Kenya, alleged to have demanded bribes from refugees in return for re-settling them in Europe or North America.

Mr Annan said he was determined to get to the bottom of the allegations, and deal with those responsible.

The investigation has proved so difficult and dangerous that the UN has had to transfer three of its employees out of the country because they had received death threats.

It is suspected that organised criminals in Kenya may be involved, and the UN has asked the countries receiving the refugees - Britain, United States, Canada and Australia - to help with the investigation.

'Abominable'

A spokesman in Nairobi said the death threats were being taken very seriously, and several members of staff who are not under investigation have taken leave or been redeployed.

It is abominable that refugees who are already suffering, who are displaced, whose lives have been uprooted, should be exploited in this manner and those responsible should be dealt with harshly

Kofi Annan

Two of the staff members have received death threats within the last two months.

Newspaper reports said bribes of up to $5,000 had been demanded from refugees who wished to be sent to favoured destinations.

At least four members of staff are under investigation. Three Kenyans have been assigned to new duties, while an Italian has not has his contract renewed.

Mr Annan said no leniency would be shown to anyone found guilty.

"I think it is abominable that refugees who are already suffering, who are displaced, whose lives have been uprooted, should be exploited in this manner and those responsible should be dealt with harshly."

How many?

Kenya plays host to nearly 200,000 refugees - the majority of these come from Somalia.

Many also come from Sudan, Ethiopia and the Great Lakes region.

Every year the UN resettles between 8,000 and 11,000 of them, once it has become clear that they will not be able to return home at any point in the foreseeable future. The service is free.

A UN spokesman said the big question was how many cases since 1999 had been affected by corruption.