Official Deadline Arrives For Closing Iraq's Camp Ashraf

Banners against the Iranian regime are seen at Camp Ashraf, home to exiled Iranian opposition members, which is threatened with closure.

The Iraqi government's official deadline for closing Camp Ashraf is set to expire, leaving the future of its remaining residents uncertain.

A United Nations official warned on July 19 that Baghdad's patience is "wearing thin" with the camp's residents, who are exiled opponents of the Iranian regime.

They have refused to leave the site north of Baghdad ahead of the deadline on July 20.

Martin Kobler, UN Special Representative for Iraq, told the Security Council that 1,200 members of the People's Mujahedeen of Iran have stayed at Camp Ashraf despite an agreement that they should move elsewhere.

Iraq's UN Ambassador Hamid al-Bayati has called on European countries and other states to find a home for Camp Ashraf residents to help resolve the situation.

Nearly 2,000 of the camp's inhabitants have already moved to new quarters near Baghdad.

Based on reporting by AP and AFP