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Asylum Seekers

Last Updated: Thursday January 20 2005 12:09 GMT

Who are asylum seekers?

Blerta Muca from Kosovo, and her daughter

Asylum means safety.

Asylum seekers leave their homes and move to other countries, where they feel they will be protected.

In the UK, asylum seekers are officially people who have lodged a claim with the Government and are waiting to find out if they can stay in this country.

If they are allowed to stay, they become "refugees".