Home Secretary John Reid has lost his legal battle allowing him to restrict the rights of nine Afghan hijackers living in the UK.

Mr Reid had appealed against a High Court decision which granted the nine men - who hijacked a internal flight in Afghanistan and flew to Stansted in 2000 in order to escape the Taliban regime - discretionary leave to enter and remain in the UK, subject to review every six months.

This would allow the men to work, possibly claim state benefits and support their families in the UK, although they were not entitled to full refugee status.

At the Court of Appeal, a lawyer acting for the Home Secretary argued that although the nine men could not be deported because of human rights issue, he could impose "temporary admission" status on them, under immigration law.

Those subjected to temporary admission status usually have to rely on state hand-outs, and are not allowed to work or obtain travel documents. They also have to live where they are told, have to report to the police on a regular basis and remain subject to detention at any time.

However, the Home Secretary's appeal was dismissed by judges at the Court of Appeal on Friday.

(KMcA)