London - A group of 18 Kosovan refugees who overstayed their leave to remain in Britain yesterday avoided a Government-imposed deadline to quit the country after lodging last-minute applications to remain.
The Kosovars, who fled to Britain at the height of the NATO bombing campaign against Yugoslavia, had been told to leave yesterday or face possible deportation. As of Friday, of the 4,346 Kosovars who came to Britain during the conflict, 2,396 had returned, while 1,932 had applied for extended leave to remain or were seeking asylum.