Words in the News Monday 14 January 2002 Vocabulary from the news. Listen to and read the report then find explanations of difficult words below.
Zimbabwean Asylum Seekers Summary: The British government is coming under increasing pressure for deporting Zimbabwean asylum seekers. Some members of the governing Labour Party are calling for a temporary halt to all deportations to Zimbabwe. Bethan Rhys Roberts Reports.
Asylum policy is rarely far from the top of Britain's political agenda. Last year the government was accused of being too lenient and of making Britain a "soft touch" for asylum seekers.
Now Prime Minister Tony Blair is facing claims that his policy is too harsh, especially for those fleeing Zimbabwe. A senior member of the governing Labour party, the chairman of the Parliamentary Group on Refugees, Neil Gerrard, is calling for a halt to all deportations to Zimbabwe until the situation there improves.
The Refugee Council in Britain is claiming that lives are being put at risk by the government's policy and the main opposition Conservative Party is calling for urgent talks on the matter.
Mr Blair has expressed concern about the deteriorating situation in Zimbabwe after the parliament there passed legislation granting President Mugabe wide ranging powers ahead of elections in March. Mr Blair discussed developments with the South African leader Thabo Mbeki ahead of a meeting on Monday of the South African Development Community in Malawi.
The Prime Minister insists that all asylum seekers in Britain go through the same procedure. Claims that they will be subject to abuse or torture if they return are put to the test and asylum is granted to those who may be persecuted. His spokesman insisted that the government was closely monitoring the situation in Zimbabwe and that developments there would affect the way claims were assessed.
