A controversial asylum camp on France's northern coast is to close down earlier than planned at the end of the year, Paris and London agreed today.
The Sangatte camp near the Channel port of Calais - from which many refugees have staged entry attempts into Britain - will shut down in December instead of April 2003.
Under the deal announced today, Britain will take in about 1,000 Iraqi Kurds, who will be given work visas, as well as some 200 Afghans with family in the United Kingdom. France will take responsibility for the roughly 300 remaining residents of Sangatte.
"I am very pleased that the Sangatte centre will close for good on 30 December," British Home Secretary Mr David Blunkett said, making the announcement with French Interior Minister Mr Nicolas Sarkozy.
Britain's Refugee Council, which campaigns for asylum seekers' rights, welcomed the decision to allow the Iraqis in.
"It is absolutely essential that people fleeing persecution have access to safety," international development manager Ms Julia Purcell said. "No one can be in any doubt that Iraqis have every reason to flee that country".