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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iraqis to sue UK for compensation | Iraqis to sue UK for compensation |
| (about 12 hours later) | |
| More than 20 Iraqis who worked for British forces are to sue the UK government, the BBC has learned. | More than 20 Iraqis who worked for British forces are to sue the UK government, the BBC has learned. |
| Most were interpreters, who say they were not given adequate protection from attack by extremist militias. | Most were interpreters, who say they were not given adequate protection from attack by extremist militias. |
| They claim they were owed a duty of care, and later this week will begin their legal actions in a bid to gain compensation from the UK. | They claim they were owed a duty of care, and later this week will begin their legal actions in a bid to gain compensation from the UK. |
| The government says it has helped hundreds of Iraqis settle in the UK through an assistance scheme. | The government says it has helped hundreds of Iraqis settle in the UK through an assistance scheme. |
| It also says "many thousands" of Iraqis have worked for British forces since 2003. | It also says "many thousands" of Iraqis have worked for British forces since 2003. |
| Some became targets for local militias who saw them as collaborators. | Some became targets for local militias who saw them as collaborators. |
| As the security situation deteriorated some were murdered, others fled to Syria and Jordan, some went into hiding in southern Iraq. | As the security situation deteriorated some were murdered, others fled to Syria and Jordan, some went into hiding in southern Iraq. |
| [After] my loyal and faithful service to the British army, I am alone without any help "Jamal" | [After] my loyal and faithful service to the British army, I am alone without any help "Jamal" |
| Jamal - not his real name - knew he couldn't go on working for the British after his best friend was killed. | Jamal - not his real name - knew he couldn't go on working for the British after his best friend was killed. |
| "He was tortured, severe, merciless torture and was killed and thrown into a remote place," he said. | "He was tortured, severe, merciless torture and was killed and thrown into a remote place," he said. |
| Jamal, who is 28, worked for the British army from March 2005 to December 2005, but now lives secretly in Basra. His says his family constantly worry about him. | Jamal, who is 28, worked for the British army from March 2005 to December 2005, but now lives secretly in Basra. His says his family constantly worry about him. |
| "It was like a daily nightmare for them, whenever I was going out they were thinking of me, they were fearing and expecting the worst for me." | "It was like a daily nightmare for them, whenever I was going out they were thinking of me, they were fearing and expecting the worst for me." |
| Iraqi interpreters often accompanied UK soldiers on patrol | Iraqi interpreters often accompanied UK soldiers on patrol |
| Jamal now sees no option but to take legal action against the government which he feels let him down. | Jamal now sees no option but to take legal action against the government which he feels let him down. |
| "I feel so disappointed. [After] my loyal and faithful service to the British army, I am alone without any help. It is devastating to me." | "I feel so disappointed. [After] my loyal and faithful service to the British army, I am alone without any help. It is devastating to me." |
| Legal action | Legal action |
| Jassim - who also does not want to use his real name - decided he had to give up work and take his family to Syria because of the anonymous death threats he received on his mobile. | Jassim - who also does not want to use his real name - decided he had to give up work and take his family to Syria because of the anonymous death threats he received on his mobile. |
| "They said 'we know where you are working, we know your house, we know what time you came into the base'," he said. | "They said 'we know where you are working, we know your house, we know what time you came into the base'," he said. |
| Both applied to come to Britain under the Locally Engaged Staff Assistance Scheme (LESAS), set up to help local staff employed by the British. | Both applied to come to Britain under the Locally Engaged Staff Assistance Scheme (LESAS), set up to help local staff employed by the British. |
| But neither had served continuously for 12 months, so their applications failed. | But neither had served continuously for 12 months, so their applications failed. |
| The two men, along with more than 20 others, are expected to start legal action this week to sue the government. | The two men, along with more than 20 others, are expected to start legal action this week to sue the government. |
| Sapna Malik is a partner at the solicitors Leigh Day and is co-ordinating the actions. | Sapna Malik is a partner at the solicitors Leigh Day and is co-ordinating the actions. |
| "The MoD could certainly have taken better steps to protect the identities of interpreters and in certain cases they should have housed the interpreters on the bases," she said. | "The MoD could certainly have taken better steps to protect the identities of interpreters and in certain cases they should have housed the interpreters on the bases," she said. |
| There are 25 claims in total, and most of them are interpreters. Three are the wives or mothers of men who were murdered by militias. | There are 25 claims in total, and most of them are interpreters. Three are the wives or mothers of men who were murdered by militias. |
| Duty of care | Duty of care |
| She says the British government owed local staff a duty of care. | She says the British government owed local staff a duty of care. |
| "Financial compensation will go a significant way to reduce the hardship they've been suffering. | "Financial compensation will go a significant way to reduce the hardship they've been suffering. |
| "They are also hoping that this will help shape the policy if Britain gets involved in any future conflicts." | "They are also hoping that this will help shape the policy if Britain gets involved in any future conflicts." |
| IRAQIS IN UK UNDER LESAS Resettled in the UK - 201 former and current employeesTotal including dependents - 612Rejected - 694 | IRAQIS IN UK UNDER LESAS Resettled in the UK - 201 former and current employeesTotal including dependents - 612Rejected - 694 |
| Two years ago the prime minister announced help for Iraqis who had served for a year - they were offered financial assistance or resettlement. | Two years ago the prime minister announced help for Iraqis who had served for a year - they were offered financial assistance or resettlement. |
| The scheme closed for former employees in May this year. | The scheme closed for former employees in May this year. |
| Of those eligible, 201 have come to Britain. Hundreds of others have taken the money. But almost seven hundred have been told they do not qualify. | Of those eligible, 201 have come to Britain. Hundreds of others have taken the money. But almost seven hundred have been told they do not qualify. |
| The Foreign Secretary David Miliband praised the "dedication and commitment" of local staff in a recent statement. | The Foreign Secretary David Miliband praised the "dedication and commitment" of local staff in a recent statement. |
| "The scheme for assistance is designed to reflect our enduring debt to them. I am pleased it has proved popular and effective," he said. | "The scheme for assistance is designed to reflect our enduring debt to them. I am pleased it has proved popular and effective," he said. |
| A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We have made a decision to focus assistance on those staff who have had a sustained association with us in the most difficult circumstances." | A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokesman said: "We have made a decision to focus assistance on those staff who have had a sustained association with us in the most difficult circumstances." |
| "Wherever we draw the line, there will be difficult cases." | "Wherever we draw the line, there will be difficult cases." |