By Jackie Storer BBC News Online political staff

A businessman who was forced to flee Iraq because of his political party's attempts to topple Saddam Hussein's regime has told of his terrifying escape to Britain.

The man said he had no choice but to leave his pregnant wife and two children because his membership of the country's main opposition party meant his name was added to a hit list.

I joined a party to destroy Saddam Hussein's regime. We failed

'Abdullah'

The 33-year-old said he crossed the Iraqi border, walked into Iran and then Turkey where, with $6,000 of savings, he managed to board a lorry bound for Britain.

He now lives in a tiny Reading bedsit, surviving on tea and bread so he can send �10 a week of his benefits home to his family with whom he desperately wants to be reunited.

Desperate appeal

He said his fears for their safety are heightened by UK Prime Minister Tony Blair's backing for possible US-led military action against Iraq.

"Abdullah's" face has been masked to protect identity

BBC News Online met Abdullah - whose name has been changed to protect his identity - at the constituency surgery of Labour MP Jane Griffiths.

Smartly dressed and armed with a white envelope full of documents and a headed letter from the Reading East MP, he appealed to her for help in bringing his family home.

Abdullah, whose wife has since given birth to a second son, told the BBC how he had been a successful Iraqi businessman, owning four companies, but as the economy faltered, his firms closed.

Distraught by the way Iraq was falling apart around him, Abdullah decided to join the Iraqi National Congress.

It was a decision that changed his life.

"I had a construction company, a hospital, I sold glassware and I had a factory making clothes," Abdullah told BBC News Online in broken English.

"The businesses stopped after 1994. There was no money. The economy was destroyed. Everything was changed to badness.

'Dangerous'

"I joined a party to destroy Saddam Hussein's regime. We failed. We wanted to control the north of Iraq. The plan was to change the system.

"We fought for three years, but without any success. We were broken and I had to leave everything.

"It was too dangerous for me to stay. All of the party ran to Iran and Turkey.

It's very hard being here without my family. Every night I cry. I haven't anything else

'Abdullah'

"I walked through Iran for seven days and then nine days through Turkey.

"I got here by lorry. I paid $6,000. I don't know if I went through the Channel Tunnel."

His eyes well up as he says: "It's very hard being here without my family. Every night I cry. I haven't anything else.

"All I have is dreams.

"Europe was like paradise to us. But when I came here I was shocked. Life is very hard here and back home is very dangerous for me.

"I haven't got the proper papers to get a job. How can I get a job to run this family?

Political intervention?

"I have four years exceptional stay. I do nothing. I have income support. My knee was broken.

Many Iraqis have fled Saddam Hussein's regime.

"At the moment, because I am not in employment, the British government won't allow me to bring my family here.

"Maybe after I have a scan and the hospital finds out what kind of problem I have, they will decide what kind of operation and then I can work.

"My solicitor said a recommendation from Ms Griffiths would be very helpful for my case."

Before leaving the surgery in the middle of a canteen at Tesco Extra in Reading, Abdullah looks respectfully across at the MP, who by now had another case to deal with.

Wistfully he said: "I hope she help me. I really hope she can help."