UN halts return of Iraqi refugees

Iraqi troops can no longer protect refugee convoys

The United Nations has stopped convoys of Iraqi refugees returning from Iran because of deteriorating security in Najaf and elsewhere.

"Security is a major concern," a UN refugee agency spokeswoman said.

Fierce fighting has erupted recently in the holy city of Najaf between Shia militants and US-led forces.

The UN said convoys from Iran to the mainly Kurdish north of Iraq have also been stopped, because there is a shortage of homes to house refugees.

"Crossings into both the south and the north of the country have been suspended," the UNHCR said in a statement.

Too dangerous

It is not the first interruption to the repatriation process, which began in earnest in November.

UNHCR spokeswoman Marie-Helene Verney told BBC News: "It is very on and off. Sometimes it is on for a week and off for two. This is most of the time because of security."

She said an increase in fighting across the Shia south meant the coalition and Iraqi troops that normally escort columns of refugees from Iran to Basra "haven't been able to provide security for the convoy".

The UNHCR has helped more than 13,000 Iraqi refugees return from Iran, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia, since the fall of Saddam Hussein last year.

Return not encouraged

As many as 40,000 may have returned from Iran without UNHCR protection.

The organisation has not been encouraging people to return, while Iraq remains so tense, but has helped those who said they would go back anyway, the spokeswoman said.

Iran has more than half of the world's 400,000 refugees from Iraq.

In the north of Iraq, local authorities have expressed concern that returning refugees have nowhere to live.

"A shortage of housing is a crucial issue in northern Iraq, where UNHCR has been working with its partners to help build houses, provide local people with building materials and help the rehabilitation of public buildings," the UNHCR said.