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Immigration Minister says repratriation will not be forced

Amnesty International and the Australian representative of Afghanistan's new government say Afghanistan is not ready to take back the refugees and repatriation should be delayed.

However, Australia's Immigration Minister, Philip Ruddock, says while people from Afghanistan will not be forced to return home, they will have to leave Australia at some time if they are found not to be refugees.

"Well we've made it clear that it will be voluntary. But there will be a time for rejected asylum seekers when it is possible to return people home otherwise than voluntarily ... that will happen."

1/02/2002 9:37:12 AM | ABC Radio Australia News

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