Iraq captive told to repay cash

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A man detained in Iraq for five months during the first Gulf War has been asked to give back some of the compensation he was awarded.

Chris Shaw, from Wirral, was given cash by the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) after being held in Baghdad more than 16 years ago.

But he has now received a letter saying he was overpaid and nearly £1,300 must be returned within 30 days.

Mr Shaw's wife Brenda said it was an insult after what they went through.

Mr Shaw, who was working as a mechanical engineer, was on his way back to the UK in 1990 when he was told by Iraqi officials he could not board his flight at Baghdad Airport.

Lots of people had breakdowns and couldn't go back to work or lost their jobs after what happened Brenda Shaw

More than 3,000 foreigners were forbidden by Saddam Hussein from leaving the country during this period.

Some British and foreign nationals were later placed near strategically important sites in a tactic which became known as the "human shield".

Fearing for his safety, Mr Shaw and his work colleagues fled to the British Embassy where they lived for five months in a tent, too afraid to leave.

'Shock and insult'

Mr Shaw is currently working in Abu Dhabi but his wife Brenda said: "It's a shock and insult. We didn't even get one big payment.

"We were just fed dribs and drabs over about three years.

"Lots of people had breakdowns and couldn't go back to work or lost their jobs after what happened there," she added.

Mrs Shaw said they just accepted the money they were given and tried to get on with their lives.

"I think it was about £8,000 in total - not much compared to the stress we went through."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) acting on behalf of the UNCC has asked for the money back although it is not yet clear if they can enforce repayment.

The FCO was unavailable for comment.