A former Taleban fighter, seeking asylum in the UK, should be sent home, a leading Welsh Conservative has warned.

The unnamed man fled Afghanistan and told British authorities he feared being killed by the Northern Alliance if he returned.

He has applied for asylum in Cardiff, insisting he was forced to fight for the Taleban against his will.

Nick Bourne: 'man should be sent back'

However, leader of the Conservatives in the Welsh Assembly, Nick Bourne, has asked the Home Secretary to block the request because of security fears.

Mr Bourne said: "I find this utterly incredible, particularly considering the tragic incident in Manchester.

"We really should not be loading the dice against our own security forces and people and this man should be sent back."

Serious concern

Speaking from Brecon on Saturday, he called on First Minister Rhodri Morgan to make a statement in the assembly during Tuesday's plenary session.

The man's application emerged after he asked Cardiff Central MP Jon Owen Jones to help speed up his asylum application.

The Labour MP immediately raised the matter with David Blunkett.

Mr Jones said: "This man called into my office and asked if I could help speed up his asylum decision.

Mr Jones referred matter to Home Secretary

"He said he needed asylum because he had been fighting for the Taleban and if he was to return to Afghanistan, he would be killed by the Northern Alliance.

"He said he had been coerced into fighting for them.

"I referred the matter in person to the Home Secretary - there are obvious concerns in a case like this."

A Home Office spokesman said failed Afghan asylum seekers were being sent home due to "considerable improvements" in the country.

But she said despite that programme every case would be considered on its individual merits.

'Sensitive case'

Zahid Noor of The Welsh Refugee Council said: "I expect he went to his MP to discuss the case because he says he was forced to fight for the Taleban.

"It is a very sensitive case. People that have committed war craimes, crimes against humanity or any other serious crimes are exempt from protection under the 1951 Geneva Convention for refugees.

"The crucial fact remains that this Afghan asylum seeker was coerced to fight for the Taleban.

It would be a distortion to imply that this individual poses a risk to security.

"Had he, the immigration services would have detained him indefinitely."

Chairman of the Cardiff and District Asylum Network Reverend Aled Edwards said he though the case was exceptional.

"Asylum seekers can be very naive about what they do - he would have spoken honestly, without thinking.

"The link between asylum and terrorism is very weak.

"If he was perceived to be terrorist threat police would have seized him by now," he added.