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Hijackers may seek

asylum in Britain

STANSTED: As hostages aboard a hijacked Afghan jet grounded at an airport near London began a fourth day in captivity on Wednesday, speculation was mounting here that the motive for the hijack was to seek asylum.

According to a swathe of reports in Wednesday's papers, quoting a variety of sources including police, the aim of the hijackers Ñ and possibly some of the passengers too Ñ was to claim asylum in Britain.

The Daily Mail claimed that three hostages freed earlier from the plane by the hijackers had already requested political asylum.

It also reported that some of the hijackers are believed to have relatives on board the Ariana airlines jet, which they seized during a domestic flight in Afghanistan early on Sunday before directing it to London.

Officially, police are not commenting. They say the hijackers have made no political demands, although "certain other issues have been discussed".

According to the Daily Telegraph citing police sources, the hijackers have asked negotiators what would happen if they surrendered.

The Times, for its part, said the negotiations were concentrating on the hijackers' demands for assurances about their personal safety, and that they had been promised they would not be returned to Kabul.

It quoted an unidentified police source as saying they were "men who want to save their own skins".

The Sun and Mirror tabloid papers also suspected an elaborate bid to seek asylum in Britain.

Shortly after the hijack ordeal began, there were reports of a demand for the release of a jailed Afghan opposition leader, but other senior opposition figures have denied any involvement.

A solicitor who represented the gang responsible for Britain's last hijack crisis, in 1996, said she believed the Stansted group were "highly likely" to be seeking asylum.

Eman Omar said, she was mainly basing her theory on the fact that the hijackers had taken the plane to a European country.

"No one actually takes the risk of hijacking a plane lightly, and endanger their lives and the lives of everybody on board.

UNHCR envoy arrives

Moreover, a representative of the UN refugee agency arrived late on Tuesday at Stansted airport north of London, where hijackers are still holding more than 150 hostages aboard an Afghan plane, police said.

But speaking at a press conference, Assistant Chief Constable Joe Edwards would not elaborate on what led to the female representative's presence, saying the subject was "sensitive".

He could not say if it had followed a plea from the hijackers for asylum.

Interviews with hostages released from the plane in the past two days had shown there were between six and 10 hijackers who were armed, he added.

The UN agency representative, who is based in London, was an observer offering background, police insisted, and not involved in the negotiations.

"There is nothing particularly significant in this move. The main strength the UN representative will bring is an intimate knowledge of the situation in Afghanistan," Edwards said.

"She will play no part in the negotiation, but will be on hand to provide background information and advice".

So far the only clear demands from the hijackers have been for food, water and medicines, and the motive for the hijacking remains unclear.ÑAFP